Good Morning One in the Spirit and One in the Lord Co-Laborers! Amen! Jesus prayed for us to be one as He and he Father are One and that has, is and will be true today for those in Christ and called to His Body, even specific Bodies like ours at St. Matts. Unity in Christ is a critical element for today's Church! Well it has always been and always will be too. We are One--right? We have one Spirit, one mission, one God and we are called to oneness. Praying together, serving together, worshiping together, encouraging and spurring each other on to good deeds God has for us is all part of that. We are to love as we have been loved. Oneness often requires dying to self and refocusing away from ourselves to God and others. We are growing at that for sure, but we always need to be vigilant to stay united in Christ and mission. We need each other! We need others with differing gifts and abilities to achieve all that God has gathered and is sending us to do. We need to be one. Keep praying into that and for us to stay focused on Jesus and our mission together! Amen! 

And keep praying expectantly with thanksgiving for all God is and plans to do in and through us. United in Christ, prayer, worship and service. United in love! Check out the devos below as you spend some time meditating and praying into these things. God loves you, is calling you in love by name for the things He has prepared for you today. prepare your hearts and seek out your partners. Then go live and love like Jesus and God will work out the rest! Amen!

Sarah Young:

ODB:

UR: Two Words

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. - Matthew 6:7 (NIV)

It’s been over 50 years, but I still remember my sixth-grade Sunday school class like it was yesterday. That’s because it changed how I experienced church and how I prayed. After spending years in basement classrooms, I moved to the sixth-grade classroom, which was up in the steeple of the church. And the class was taught by a man — the first male teacher I had ever had.

His lesson on prayer has stayed with me all my life. He recounted a time when he was driving on an icy, country road and his car spun out of control and careened toward a tree. He told us that he prayed a two-word prayer: “Not now!” Though he didn’t have time to embellish his prayer with formalities, God heard his prayer.

In 1 Kings 18, the prophets of Baal thought they would be heard because of their many words. When God’s prophet Elijah prayed, his prayer was only a couple of sentences long, yet God heard him and answered his prayer. We don’t need to concoct long, fancy prayers in order to pray. From the first syllables we utter, God listens to us.

Today's Prayer

Whether our prayers are long or short, you, O Lord, hear the cries of our heart. We thank you for your constant presence with us. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.

Harvest Connection prayers

March 25 - An Attitude of Prayer It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them beside the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you” . . . And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.   Then Jehoshaphat . . . said, “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’”   Now all Judah . . . stood before the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah. . . . “Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. . . . You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.  2 Chronicles 20:1–4, 6–7, 9, 13–15, 17–18   D. L. Moody said, “We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man.” In this section of Scripture, we find Jehoshaphat and all Judah under attack from the world, the people of Moab and Ammon. Jehoshaphat was outnumbered and all looked hopeless. He was afraid.   Faith does not keep us from fear, but enables us to seek God in spite of our fears. To seek God simply means we pursue God. He is preeminent. That means He is not merely a priority, but everything is around Him. When we seek God, we desire more than anything the “face” of God, His presence. We desire intimacy with Him more than anything else. Our lifestyle is that of pursuing, learning about, and communing with God. It takes time, energy, even resources to seek God.   Our attitude determines if we receive God’s Word or not. According to James 1:21, we are to have an attitude of meekness to receive the implanted (engrafted) Word of God. All of this is a result of our having a hunger for the approval of God more than the approval of humans.   Jehoshaphat put aside everything in order to seek God. This was not a spur of the moment decision. We see in 2 Chronicles 19:3, he had removed the wooden images and prepared his heart to seek God. He did this before the invading army showed up to battle against him.   American evangelist R. A. Torrey, who was a contemporary of D. L. Moody, said: “The reason many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. . . . Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” Jehoshaphat succeeded in battle because he had already positioned himself to seek God. Likewise, we must remove from our hearts and lives anything that is offensive to God and distracts us from Him. Then we can fully seek God on our knees.   --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. Prayer Points Praise God for seeking and saving the lost. Give thanks that Jesus is “the good shepherd [who] lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). Confess those instances and ways in which you ignore the voice of your Shepherd. Commit yourself to learning to be content whatever the circumstances (Phil. 4:11). Ask God to give you the fullness of life which comes with following the Savior. Pray for those who serve in law enforcement, that the stress of their jobs will not be too much for them to bear. Ask God to give them special strength to do their jobs well. 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

Sarah Prayer update below

This Week:

Tue 

10-11 Zoom Huddle. All welcome!

6-7:30 Wrap up of Spiritual gifts dinner study

Wed

10-12 Bread Ministry

6-7:30 Dinner Huddle. All welcome

Sun. Brunch after worship 11:30

Please continue to pray into these, for God to use us, raise up harvest workers form the harvest, and for new connection points into our neighborhoods

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Good Morning Praying Friends!

Thank you for your participation with our circle up prayer time yesterday! I felt God moving and informing and leading us in prayer. I am praying expectantly and with thanksgiving for all He has planned in response and for all we have released in the heavenlies and on earth as we cried out for His Kingdom to come and will to be done and to use us. AMEN! I will be working on a new April prayer calendar this week. Please use them as we agree together in prayer and release God's power and answers as one in Christ from our knees. I expect God is leading us to do something like this at least once a quarter and for Him to raise up some prayer teams, especially with those He is raising up who are called to pray for such a time as this. That can be done over the phone and/or emails too. Where two or three are gathered, He is present. PTL!

Check out the Connections blog and prayer and prayer starters for today. The Martin Luther quote is one that has come to life for me over the past several decades, beginning my day in His presence and prayer and preparing for the busyness of the day ahead. “I have so much to do [today] that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” —Martin Luther AMEN! Try it! and it doesn't have to be three hours. It may grow to that but the key is stilling self, abiding in Christ in prayer and receiving strength and directions for the day. He has always redeemed whatever time I spend in His presence in prayer each day and has allowed what He planed for me to be completed as I pray, trust and follow Him--even praying without ceasing through the day ahead. AMEN!

I will include our devotionals for the day below for you to use as a springboard into His presence. We are called and commissioned to go make disciples. That is launched, empowered and comes to life as we abide and pray. Cast all your fear on God for He cares for you. Trust Him and offer yourself for Him to use today. he does have great plans for you that will glorify His holy name!

A question were posed to me from my I to We devo that I am asking you to prayerfully contemplate: "What could it mean to abide in Christ together to see prayer as both an personal and shared activity?" Talk to God about that and your part in corporate prayer flowing from your prayer time. The author reminds us, "Sheep do really well hanging out together with the Shepherd rather than as lone rangers." So ask God to reveal the partners He wants you to join as you hang with our Shepherd together and in prayer! We took a step towards that yesterday. may God continue to unite us in prayer and on mission! he does have great plans for you, for your teammates and for us as His Body! Amen! Seek first His Kingdom...

Connections:

March 24 - Come Out of the Shadows Father, I’m so grateful that through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death! Thank You, Jesus, for willingly becoming my sin-offering; that my sins have been forgiven and forgotten; and that You have given me Your righteousness is beyond my ability to understand, but I am so very thankful!   And now Lord, knowing that I am Yours and that the Holy Spirit lives in me, may my mind be set on what the Spirit desires. I ask in Jesus’ name that You break all residual strongholds of my sinful nature, that my mind be controlled by Your Spirit and produce life and peace in me.   I choose this day to put to death the misdeeds of my body that I might truly live! Thank You for the Spirit of sonship, that I am Yours and call You “Father” is more than I can comprehend! Empower me to live as Your child. (Pause and consider that you are a child of God!)   How I thank You, Lord Jesus, that while I was still captive and imprisoned by my sin, You came and proclaimed freedom! Forgive me for the ways that I live as if Your sacrifice for my sin is not enough. Truly my sin is great, but Your grace is greater still, and You have given me Your robe and ring and have invited me to feast at Your table! Forgive me Father, for the ways that I think, speak, or live that are as if I am a slave in Your house, instead of Your child! Forgive me for living in the shadows.   Empower me, this day, by Your Spirit that is at work in me, to live boldly in the freedom that You have provided for me, in Christ. Transform my living and fill me with Your joy! Thank You that where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Words are inadequate to express my thanks, Lord Jesus, for destroying the curse of sin and setting me free!   Thank You for this glorious freedom! Strengthen me to come out of the shadows of my living, and walk in Your great light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   Romans 8:2-17; Galatians 5:1; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Luke 15:11-31; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 8:21   --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. Prayer Points Praise God because he is the encourager and comforter of his people. Give thanks that God loved you and by his grace gave you eternal encouragement and good hope (2 Thess. 2:16). Ask forgiveness for all those times when fear and anxiety replace the courage that God gives. Commit yourself to seeking God’s encouragement to face every obstacle in your life. Ask God to encourage your heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2:17). Ask God to lead your church to care about welcoming newcomers and including them in the life of the church. Pray that no one be neglected in this important ministry.    Prayer Pointer “I have so much to do [today] that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” —Martin Luther 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

ODB:

UR:  Good Intentions

I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVUE)

We have dense scrub at the edges of our property, and feral cats pose a danger to the many native animals and birds that reside here. So we set out humane traps to catch and remove the cats. However, we often find a native animal — perhaps an echidna or a currawong — caught in the trap and awaiting release.

One morning, a trap had caught a powerful Rosenberg’s goanna. As I approached the trap to release the lizard, he opened his jaws wide. Thrashing about in the cage, he hissed and glared at me. He was terrified of me, and every effort I made to release him made him more hostile. After I finally managed to open the trap, I left him alone to find his way out in his own time.

How often do we similarly fail to understand that God’s only intention is to help us? We may fear God’s tender and loving approach and struggle against it because we don’t realize that all God wants is to love us and set us free. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us, God’s intention is not to harm but to prosper us; to release us from our captivity and from all fear.

Today's Prayer

Thank you, loving God, for your unwavering love for us at all times. Help us to entrust ourselves fully to your love and to remember that your only intention is to bless us. Amen.
Sarah Young

TWFYT:

Sarah Update:

Good evening, family,

Praying you all have had a good weekend..... we will be praying for those of you that will be heading into

work tomorrow; praying for those of you that will be working around  your home and praying for each of you to 

stay healthy and safe throughout this week, until we meet together again, next Sunday.

   Hey next Sunday is our brunch following worship in our Fellowship Hall.   Who will you invite to come?

Here are those in need of your prayers:

Continue to keep those that are going through Chemo/Radiation/doctor appointments: Diane Huber, Houston 

Lichtenwalner, Sandy (Darlene Geiger's sister), Mike Laisce's dad, Matt Stauffer

Bread Ministry is being blessed with other volunteers to assist with this outreach. On Tuesday, Gail will be 

training a new volunteer the 'ropes'. Linda does participate in the ministry, and she has been attending our 

Wednesday evening gatherings. Pray for Gail as she shares Jesus' love and pray for Linda as she becomes

more involved with St Matt's church family.

Marylou has asked for prayer for her son, Brian and his wife Michelle.  Life has its challenges, and they are

currently dealing with some difficult situations in their lives.  Pray for God's redeeming love to surround them;

that God will put some strong Christians into their lives to help and support them through this difficult time.

Pray for Marylou, as she continues to pray for her son and family.     May we not Stop Praying!

Prayers for Lori and team as they prep for our monthly brunch this coming Sunday, and for those that will be

attending.

Pastor Mike Laisce requested prayer for a good and safe racing season. This coming Saturday is practice day

for the drivers. Mike enjoys working on his car with his Dad, and he is asking for prayer that his dad will feel 

well enough to attend the races and help Mike out in the pits. 

Also keep Pastor Don in your prayers as he serves there at the Race Track, sharing God's love and words of

compassion and hope.

Praising God that Winnie Iobst, and Sandy Ritter were healthy and feeling well enough to join us for 

in house worship!

Just a reminder of what God used today, to prayer us through.....

Don't forget, all welcome to attend our Wednesday evening family gatherings. Starts at 6:00 with a meal.....

Have a great week everyone!

  Blessings,

   Sarah

Hi all. No Internet so no blog today. Prepare your hearts to worship. Be ready to share some praises for how you have seen God at work recently. He's always at work! Are you seeing and joining?

We're off to visit our son's house. They invited us and we love to go to them and grands. That's just how it is as we invite God to come! So come! Speak to our hearts, inhabit our praise and lead us today! Amen! Shalom!

Good Morning Praying Friends! Get your worship on and join us for a powerful time of worship, praise, study and praying this morning at 10!

God has really been speaking to me and us about becoming a House of Prayer for the Nations and about becoming prayer warriors. Some of us have assignments in His Good News Delivery Co. as pray-ers and intercessors. However, we are all called to pray. Jesus' disciples asked Him to tach them to pray and He gave the model we can follow that we call the Lord's Prayer. Pray without ceasing is a command for all of us. Today we will learn more about prayer and the practice of it. Check out the blogs and devos below, prayerfully. God is teaching us to pray and wanting to answer our prayers! The prayers of a righteous person (anyone clothed in Christ and His righteousness/us!) are powerful and effective! Amen! May we be a people of prayer and of power because we pray! Amen! See you soon! Start to prepare as you prayerfully engage with God through this song: Looks Like Somebody Prayed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-0QXi7cLwI

Connections Blogs:

I to We Devo:

ODB

My Prayer Starters book:

Let's get that worship on! Thank God I'm Forgiven! Praise and thanksgiving should overflow from that truth!

Sarah Update below. Spring Sarah, really?--bah humbug! Thank God we are washed white as snow and may get some snow this week! However, new life of spring is cool! (Just wish that started around Aug and fall started in Sept!) BUT GOD! I can praise no matter the weather and through the storms of life!

Good Morning Praying, Praising Friends! Yes get your praise on and prepare to worship and pray with thanksgiving! Just one devo today. Well two days of my I to We devo. Check 'em out as we confess our sins, receive forgiveness and lift much thanksgiving! We are very loved and always forgiven! Get your hearts right and PTL!

I to WE Day 2 and 3 on Acts Praying: (they tie to TGIF!) Confession and Thanksgiving!

Sarah Update: Happy Spring!

Hi Church family,

I love the season of Spring - New life appears before your eyes.....

Flowers are pushing their way among the fallen leaves; the deer are reappearing with their fawns; the birds are calling for their mates; the grass is showing a beautiful green, in color; farmers are beginning to turn over their fields in preparation for planting and bears are waking up from a long winter's nap - and they are hungry......as Neen and I can attest to from the bear that visited our bird feeder the other evening and had fun mutilating the feeder. 

I think the air smells fresher - New Life.....

When we receive or renew our relationship with Jesus - it's like a "spiritual Spring" taking place in our heart.  While on our Jesus Journey, there are times in our lives when the "old" creeps in, causing us to become distracted from the Words and Voice of Jesus.

When our Father sees this happening, in our lives, He may say to us..... "Be still and know that I am God." (Ps 46:10)

God is encouraging each of us to find STILLNESS ~ and be reminded of who God is and what a relationship with Him is like...... "Taste and See that the Lord is Good" (Ps 34:8) ~ God is also encouraging us to remember and personally experience and recognize again, God's goodness through our faith and our trust in Him.

So as we begin to leaf blow or rake those fallen leaves, to reveal daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus ~ and we get so excited to see the new growth ~  May we also take a spiritual Rake to our Jesus Journey, removing the "old" and allowing new growth blossom by reviewing our relationship with our Father!

** ** ** **

Hope you all have a great rest of your week and weekend.......looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday at 10:00am

worship!!

Blessings,

Good Morning Sold Out, Learning to Live and Love Like Jesus, Praying Co-Laborers! Amen! May that be us Lord and teach us to pray like Jesus and as we are created and gifted for such a time as this! Thanks! Amen!

We've had some awesome days of ministry already as we have gathered several days as parts of God's Body to eat, fellowship, study, pray, encourage each other and learn what it means to become the people and church we are created and gathered to be. PTL! I am stoked! Three verses are primary for who we are in Christ and for how we are building our church and learning to do more of what we are created and gifted to do: Col. 3:11, "In this life Christ is all that matters and He lives in me..." Eph. 2:10, "You are God's masterpiece, made new in Christ, to do the things He had planned for you from long ago." and Acts 2:42, All the believers gathered together, studied the apostles teachings, fellowshipped, ate together and prayed. And God added to their numbers daily those who were being saved." AMEN!!! We are learning to be and do more like Jesus and as we are custom created, gifted, gathered and sent to do. PTL! We are becoming a dynamic movement of God! Amen! Keep praying earnestly into and following the Holy Spirit to your parts in His Good News Delivery Co. and over these verses as you meditate on them and seek God for His plans for you and us.

Since we are building our lives on our potential to become more like Jesus and doing what He created and gifted us to do, it behooves us to study and compare our lives to His. The Jesus shaped life is evidenced in a balanced triangle with equal parts of UP (his relationship with the Father)-IN (His relationships with the disciples and the gathered followers) and OUT (his relationships with reaching out to the lost, needy and seeking). How balanced is your and our triangle? Start with what Jesus did--get away from the noise and chaos, stilled Himself, sought God in prayer and followed Him from there to the day's assignments. Then spend some time processing and praying with your teammates before launching out into the world to share the Good News and make disciples. Love God wholeheartedly, love others and make disciples of Jesus and enjoy this life in Christ! That's always our marching orders. And as we do that as we are created and gifted, we don that easy yoke of Jesus and get inspired and affirmed as we truly enjoy this life in Christ doing what we are created to do as we are. Try it! You'll love it! Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things you need will be provided each day!

I've been earnestly praying into Sunday's worship service and what I think I am hearing God say to do. I spent some extra time with Him this morning processing before I work on the final draft. He wants to answer our prayers and teach us to pray. He wants to release His power from heaven to earth and even in the spiritual realms as we pray. We know that the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (we are considered righteous because we are in Christ and have put on His righteousness and thus our prayers--all kinds of prayers--are powerful and effective. AMEN!). So pray earnestly! Keep knocking! God's plans and the works of our church and each of us are empowered and released as we pray. Our steps are informed for each day as we pray. And God has called us to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. Sunday we will learn more about prayer and get to experience and practice some Kingdom praying. Prepare your hearts!

You have to start with the connections blogs for today! We discussed some of this last night. Those of you that were there, check it out! What's God saying about the things we discussed like praying, preparing and standing firm on the Word and in Christ always. Our Tuesday Zoom Huddle has been studying and praying through the Lord's Prayer the last few weeks and several of our devotionals have been teaching about it. Pray the Lord's prayer with fresh hearts and minds, not from rote. Maybe use a different Bible translation? We should always be praying earnestly for His Kingdom to come and will to be done. That actually ties to Mike's dangerous prayers as we die to self, take up cross daily and prepare to follow Jesus. Then check out how God is speaking to us through some other devotionals today. Keep seeking! Keep knocking and keep praying and practicing prayer that is powerful, effective and will change the atmosphere around us and lead us to our parts for revival. God is on the move! And He will partner with us as we pray and step out in faith watching for how He is responding. And then pray some more and keep following. Yes PRAY--early and often--without ceasing! God is listening and will answer according to His perfect plans and timing! Amen! What's He revealing to you today? What will you do about it? I'm praying for you! Be still and know and then go and follow Jesus as He shapes your life and teaches you to pray and prepares you to go live and love like Him! Amen!

Connections Blogs:

March 20 - Seeking Him Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:12–14)   It takes practice to become good at anything, and we must practice pursuing God’s presence, seeking Him every day until pursuing Him becomes the norm for our lives. Seeking God is a key in revival times.   It would do us all good to pause and examine our lives, seeing what we really spend our time seeking after. J. Vernon McGee said, “What is your ambition in life today? Is it to get rich? Is it to make a name for yourself? Is it even to do some wonderful thing for God?   Listen to me, beloved. The highest desire that can possess any human heart is a longing to see God.” Many people seek the wrong things and then want to add God to the end of their list. People seek comfort and convenience, but not Christ. They seek pleasure and pastimes, but not a personal relationship with Christ. Most people look for a church that has the right appeal: good music and children’s and youth programs. They seek the church with all the answers to their problems or needs.   For many, they confuse this with seeking God; this is not the same thing. Many have been led to believe they can seek God at their own convenience, but you cannot. Many a professing believer has been hurt, or gotten angry with the church or God, and left. Others have remained in the church but are filled with bitterness. They refuse to examine their lives in light of the Word of God, nor do they yield to the Word of God. Instead of turning to God, they have turned away.   After weeks, months, or even years of not seeking God, a crisis comes, an emergency, and then they expect a dead faith to work in their time of need. It does not happen.   We are commanded in Scripture (Jeremiah 29:12–14) to seek Him diligently and with urgency.   When we seek God, we are volunteering ourselves for judgment. We have reached a point in our lives where we are willing to be honest with the Word of God and how we live. It means we humble ourselves before God and also the one whom God uses to bring the message of the Word of God to us. Then, we adjust our lives to God’s standards.   Search me and know me, O Lord! Help me to seek Christ with all of my heart. May I denounce the idols that keep me from Your Presence. Help me to examine my life in light of the Word, and to yield to the power of Your Word. I sense the urgency of this hour, Father. Increase my faith, fill me with the humility of Jesus and allow me to lay my life beside Your purposes.   --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. Prayer Points Praise the Lord, who is your strength, your rock, your fortress and your deliverer (Ps. 18:1-2). Give thanks that “the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor. 1:25). Confess your desire to rely upon your own strength. Commit yourself to doing everything through him who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13). Ask God to cause you to serve him with the strength that he provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 4:11). Ask God to remove habits which destroy and limit relationships among your family and friends, and to replace these with habits which are life-giving and Spirit-led. 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

I to WE devos:

The Upper Room: be still

[The Lord] says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

In August 2021, I began a months-long healing journey following spinal surgery. I had to stop working and to alter many activities in order to heal properly. My heart was in a hurry to recover so that I could get back to my regular life, but my body was clearly letting me know that this would take time. Part of my physical therapy included walking in my neighborhood, which became spiritual therapy as well.

During one of my daily walks, I noticed a flock of egrets standing serenely in the marsh grass, preening. I stopped to watch and be still with them. Suddenly, without taking a step, one of the birds gracefully bent his neck toward the water and picked up a passing fish. Then I noticed another egret walking briskly through the marsh, his long neck oddly bent with one eye toward the water. He seemed to be frantically searching for a fish.

The contrast between the two egrets was stark, and I felt God speaking to me, telling me to be still and trust that the healing I needed would come in good time. I should not be like that frantic egret. During the following months I have found God to be faithful, and I have done my best to be still and receive.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to be still and wait on you. Even when we do not understand the journey, we trust that you will provide what we need for our good and for your glory. Amen.

TWFYT:

Good Morning Friends! See Sarah Prayer update below.

I overslept this morning and went right into my pastor's zoom huddle, which just ended. I have to hit the road to purchase food and start cooking for tonight before Bread Min. at 10. Don't forget to pray for and join our dinner huddle tonight at 6. This is almost becoming like a church plant within our church as about half of the attendees are not members but are seekers of fellowship, food and the Word. They are finding Jesus and His love among us! PTL!

Today (everyday) God is singing over you. He is speaking love to you. He is wanting to lead you and grow you more like Jesus. Turn off the noise for a bit. Abide in His loving presence and listen. Then go and watch for what He has for you to join in with Him today. he does have some great custom made plans for you that He has created, gifted and empowered you to accomplish. PTL! Seek and follow well today. Also, seek some friends to journey with! I am so excited to see God on the move among us and for many of you ad you process who and Whose you are and the plans He has for you and then are more committed to seek and follow! Praying for you all! May the God who is the Way, Truth and Life, be that and more to and through you today! Then let's process that soon.  Shalom!

Sarah update:

Good afternoon, everyone!

 Today, the sun is sooo warm. I was out on the deck for a bit, absorbing my Vitamin D.  Hope some of you have been 

able to get outside for a bit.

Todd (Lisa Wenner) - he has gone into A Fib a couple times, the last time being Sunday. Please continue to pray for Todd and his family as they are going through this challenging time.

Chris Muik - had two surgeries this past week. He is going ok but in alot of pain. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. He may be going to a rehab facility soon.   Also keep his wife Yvonne in your prayers through this difficult time.

Randy Schmidt spent a few days in the hospital. He is currently at home recouping from his leg edema and swelling

Goldie, the 97 year old neighbor of the Waterman's was taken to the hospital early Sunday morning.  Haven't received an

update - continue to keep her in your prayers for healing.

Darlene Geiger is asking for continued prayers for her sister Sandy, who is currently stable.  She is also praising God for healing from hers and Jim's colds.

Marylou shared that she spoke with Rachel who attends bread ministry. Rachel is very thankful for St Matt's, as she comes to get bread - very one is so nice and loving.  Rachel requested prayer for her 15 year old daughter, Lorelei. She was in a bad accident  and is experiencing physical and mental health issues. Lorelei is having difficulty adjusting to her current health issues. Please keep Rachel and Lorelei in our prayers of encouragement and healing.

Dean requested that we pray for rain.  More rain would help to cut down on the brush fires and replenish the creeks

Continue to pray for one another, and for our homebound members.  Also keep our first responders in our prayers - for their safety and wisdom when handling situations.

Don't forget our Wednesday night family meal and gathering. Starting at 6:00. Everyone is welcome!

Hope you all have a great rest of your week.

   Blessings,

   Sarah

Good Morning House of Prayer! God has been leading me, to not only speak to us about prayer, but to actually practice praying together. Mike got a Word from God to preach on dangerous prayers and the thought to ask God to use, send, and break you. God has put on our hearts the importance of becoming a House of Prayer for the Nations and to the motivation to begin that earnestly over the next few months. God has led me from childhood to be a pray-er and has allowed me over the years to learn to pray and to see the results of the powerful and effectiveness of praying in Jesus' name. PTL! Many of you can attest to that as well. God hears and answers the earnest prayers of His righteous ones. (That's those in Christ who pray according to Hs character and will) Everything and anything of importance begins with, is empowered through and flourishes by prayer. For many of us, our calling for this season of life is to be a prayer warrior. However, we are all called to pray. We have looked at the example of Jesus and the importance of prayer in His life. We have witnessed the disciples begging Jesus to teach them how to pray and His willingness to do so. So, let's start there today! Jesus, teach us to pray! Thanks! Amen!

Did you pray that earnestly with a heart desiring to learn how to pray and pray more effectively? If not, go back, humble yourself before Almighty God, and ask Him to give you a heart to pray and to open your heart and mind to learn how He wants to teach you to pray and ask Him again to do so. He has great plans for you and us that are discovered, released, and empowered as we pray. And sometimes, we are to be the answers to our prayers or the prayers of others.

Last week our Tuesday Zoom huddle began looking at prayer and the how to of it. (This week we begin study how to read our Bibles and use His Word in prayer) Even the most devout and effective pray-er can learn to pray better and according to God's will more often. This week we had planned to continue to learn about prayer and the how to. Big God thing today for me! I have been praying for a long time for God to teach us to pray, stir those who are called to pray for such a time as this to be revealed and rise up and for our church to become a House of Prayer for the Nations because Jesus said that is what His Church should be. Today, I prayerfully began my quiet time journaling my prayers for the day. Then I spent some time with God prayerfully in His Word and through our devotionals for today. As I wrapped that up and prepared to allow God to write this blog and asked Him to lead me this week and for Sunday's message, I encountered the Harvest prayer Connections and Tuesday blogs (see below and click link and engage with God as He teaches us about prayer and some how to's of it)

Exhale all the junk that has you bound up and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit, Turn off the noise and focus on God. Ask Him earnestly to teach you to pray and to inform your prayers for today. Repent of any sin that may be hindering Him from hearing or responding to your prayers and commit to doing what He reveals as you pray. He has great plans for you--even to teach you how to be a powerful and effective pray-er! And remember, we are all unique and we will not all pray in the same ways, nor does God always have the same prayer focus for each of us for each day. But, He has called us to pray and promised that as we pray in His name, He will hear and answer according to His perfect will and timing. PTL! Amen! Start with the Connections blog then click the link below that and spend some time with God learning to pray! We will continue this focus for a season as God leads. What's He teaching you about prayer? How can you join with one or two others to pray? Ask Him as you still yourself. He will speak to you and inform your prayers and steps for today. Amen! And know this: I am earnestly praying for you to step into your created, custom made prayer role in His Good News Delivery Company and for you to pray powerful prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen! May we soon have some great stories about the good fruit being produced through our prayers and lots of praise and thanksgiving to lift from them! Amen!

Connections:

March 18 - Prayer – the Direct Link What does kingdom praying entail? Kingdom praying includes that dimension of intercession that reaches beyond our immediate surroundings. Praying about personal, local matters often happens more naturally and more consistently for most of us. My problems, my work, my family, my needs, and the concerns of those close to me—these tend to come more spontaneously to my heart and mind. Of course, personal, local praying is valid. In fact, it is essential. God longs for us to bring our personal burdens to Him.   Yet kingdom praying is a level of praying that reaches beyond us. Kingdom praying, then, seeks to discern what God wants to happen in His kingdom, and prays for that to take place. In kingdom praying, we seek to attune our hearts to His heart’s desire and pray for its fulfillment.   What is God’s heart’s desire? He expresses it throughout the Scripture: “that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Ps. 67:2). God wants all people saved! Peter expressed it very plainly that our Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9, NIV). Our Lord’s heart’s desire is for all people to love and worship Him and become a part of His kingdom. Thus, His desire, according to His Word, must become the mission of every follower of Christ, the mission of every church.   The staggering fact before us is that at least two-thirds of the world’s population do not know and love God’s Son. What can God’s people do? Throw up our hands? As a matter of fact, yes, like Moses did—in intercession.   Hear again the psalmist quoting God: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance” (Ps. 2:8, NIV). In one of the most astounding statements in the Bible, God makes a connection between our asking and the nations being saved. He declares a direct link between the prayers of His people and the accomplishment of His heart’s desire. He reveals that kingdom praying is a priority strategy in making Christ known and loved.   Sovereign Lord, today I am asking for the nations! This is a huge request, but one I know is upon Your heart and is completely in Your perfect will, for it is clearly stated in Scripture. If Your desire is for the nations to bow before You, this is now my desire also. Keep my mind and heart fixed upon Your kingdom purposes as I pray…don’t allow me to continually be tempted to default to the little prayers of my own kingdom! Thank You for the privilege of prayer…and that You allow me to ask You for things of eternal significance! I praise You that I am able to change the world one prayer at a time!   --Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer (An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry) edited by Dan Crawford; (Chapter 73: Kingdom Praying by Minette Drumwright Pratt). This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.

Harvest links: look at and spend time with God in prayer through both blogs today, ask for forgiveness, offer it and pray for our church as you engage with these.

https://mail.yahoo.com/n/list/folders=1&listFilter=ALL_INBOX/messages/242184?.src=ym&reason=myc 

Our Daily Bread (some of us are gifted to pray. We are all called to pray) Raise your hands like Moses in praise and prayer today!

Upper Room: Excited to Serve (are you excited to serve God--even as a prayer warrior?)

It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. - Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

As I planned the upcoming meeting of our Christian fellowship group, I gave one friend the job of welcoming people as they arrived. Following our meeting, I received a message from her: “Sister,” she said, “can I take on this ministry again next week? I loved doing it.”

Welcoming people is a simple ministry, but my friend was excited to do it. I could see in her heart that she would do whatever she could to be the hands of God.

That same desire was in the apostle Paul’s heart, even in prison. The letters he wrote while in prison have blessed generations of people.

The desire to serve God grows out of the belief that “it is God who works in [us] to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” If we can embrace the same excitement and desire to serve God as my friend did in our fellowship group, we will be doing fruitful labor for God. God entrusts to us many opportunities for service. Following my friend’s example, whatever work I can do for God, I will be excited to do!

Today's Prayer

Dear God, continue to show us that our lives are filled with opportunities to reveal your love and purpose to your people. May we serve joyfully. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I to We: (Don't forget to rest and abide and recharge! Prayer is hard work!)

Good Morning House of Pray for the Nations and Disciple making Disciples of Jesus! These are tow things that God keeps bringing to the forefront as I seek Him for his will and plans for us. Please pray for us to become a House of Prayer for the Nation and disciple makers. And ask what your part is and plan to do that with some friends. I have to leave for an early doc appointment so not much tome to share. But man we heard a great message about prayer yesterday from god through Mike. Pray to be used, to be sent, to be broken. Powerful, dangerous prayers for sure! We will expand on those this week and think about how Jesus taught His disciples to pray and then commissioned them to go do what He did. That includes praying and connection with others that leads to a relation with God and growing as His disciples. That is His plan and mission for us! Keep seeking, knocking, humbling and offering self to him. he created you for such a time as this and has custom plans for you.

Spend some time with these devos and blogs, God and some prayer partners. What's he saying? what will you do about that? Teach us to pray Lord, Help us to die to self, take up cross today and follow Jesus to go make disciples in His ways. Thanks. use me! Send me! break me! Expand Your kingdom. Thanks! Amen!

I to We:

Sarah Young:

Connection:

March 17 - Making Disciples Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)   This is the Great Commission, Jesus’ last command to His disciples. Most Bible teachers feel that because He issued this command last, He meant it to have great importance for the church. Devout followers of Christ down through the ages have served tirelessly, often in the face of fierce opposition, to take the gospel message and make disciples in all nations, to all people groups.   While I was executive director of Evangelical Friends Mission, I was aware that the places where it is easy to take the gospel message had all been reached and now there remained places and cultures where Satan has had hundreds of years to put down his roots, and he does not give up that ground easily. We were also constantly monitoring our progress toward the fulfillment of this Great Commission, and I read and heard reports on the estimated number of people groups that still did not have a Christian witness among them. Because of the drive to fulfill this command, there is a strong emphasis on reaching the unreached—going to new people groups.   Part of the motivation to reach all peoples comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” This commission is given in different forms in all four Gospels. In connection with the giving of this command in Luke 24:49, NKJV, Jesus gave another command, which I’ve chosen to include here, rather than to list it separately: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”   In Acts 1:8, He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Then the NKJV version says, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” If we hope to be successful missionaries, then we must receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. I’m convinced that the most successful Christian ministers have a strong emphasis on missions. C. W. Perry, the beloved pastor of one of the largest Friends churches, used to say, “The church God blesses gets outside itself.” God honors a ministry that seeks diligently to fulfill this command. The wonderful promise in connection with this command is Jesus’ promise to be with us always, even to the end of the age. All of us want His presence with us.   I wonder if we can really have that if we are not in some way involved in the mission of seeking to take the gospel to all nations. As an act of obedience to the second part of this command, I have given almost a lifetime to writing this book. (I started it while I was young, but I laid it aside for years when I was extra busy.) I saw that Jesus commanded us to teach others to observe all things He had commanded, but as far as I knew there was no book, outside of the Bible, that taught all the things He commanded.   Lord Jesus, I want to follow You wherever You lead. You are so clear with Your command to go into all nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. Please give me an increased passion for world missions. Show me how to pray daily for Your heart concerning the world. If there is any way that I am to be involved beyond my prayers and my giving, please show me. I want to move in Your authority to see You receive increased glory around the world.    --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. Prayer Points Praise the Lord, who made and cares for heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them (Ps. 146:1-6). Give thanks for his personal care for you. Confess instances of putting ultimate trust “in mortal men, who cannot save” (146:3). Commit yourself to putting your hope in the Lord your God. Ask God to help you hand your cares to him through daily prayer. Pray that God will continually prompt his people to join him in caring for those oppressed or otherwise in need (146:7-10). Ask God to grant corporate and individual wisdom, persistence, and love in seeking to extend his kingdom. 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

Wagner's update below

This Week:

Worship today at 10 with Children's Church. (Pray for Mike as he brings the Word today. (Pastor Don and Karen are taking a sabbath rest few days))

Tues: 10 am Zoom Huddle; 6 PM Spiritual Gifts class

Wed: 10-12 Brea ministry; 6-7:30 Dinner Huddle (all welcome. Pray into this as we have been connecting to more neighbors and bread people. Thank God for His provision and answered prayers!)

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Good Morning Praising, Praying, Studying Worshipers! May God draw you close as you praise, pray and study His Word. May He speak to your hearts today and through Mike and as you abide in His presence! May we worship in Spirit and Truth and enter His courts with thanksgiving and prepared hearts. Amen!

This is a day of sabbath for Karen and me. It's a day to turn off the noise, dwell in God's loving presence, receive His shalom and a day to recharge, refresh and prepare for what He has in store for us. It's a day to enjoy too! God made the Sabbath for us and we are wise to choose to take some days of sabbath rest and worship and fun! I had an amazing time with the Lord this morning and want to share the devotionals I used and how God knitted them together to share with you. He is speaking love over you all the time. Be still and know; reload and go! Amen! That's our plan!

So what's He saying to you today and what will you do about it? Begin with some time in His presence, some worship, some receiving and reloading and follow Him into the week ahead refreshed and ready. Turn off the noise and focus on what really matters--Christ and allowing Him to love through you and enjoying all the blessings of this life God has given you. Shalom shalom! Perfect peace to you all! Rejoice, worship and enjoy this day! May God reload you as He will water our gardens today and fill our aquafers and may we sink our roots deep in Him! Amen!

Upper Room: New Strength

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. - Psalm 18:32 (NIV)

It was a terrible night. Something had triggered the memory of hurts from long ago. I couldn’t fall asleep as I replayed these crushing experiences in my mind. Since I couldn’t sleep, I read

Matthew 26:36-46 which describes Jesus’ agonizing prayers in the garden of Gethsemane.

Strangely, I was comforted that Jesus’ closest friends — Peter, James, and John — couldn’t support him because they fell asleep. This prompted me to go back to bed, and thankfully I slept another few hours.

But when I woke up at 6 a.m., I could hardly stand. My wife and I had to leave soon for church since I was in the choir. I worried that in this wobbly state I wouldn’t be able to sing. Then I remembered a verse from a psalm I had read a few days before: “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” In the midst of troubles, God gave David strength. A sense of calm came over me and I felt a new vigor, trusting that what God had done for David, God would do for me.

Today's Prayer

Merciful God, when we feel completely drained, thank you for giving us strength. Amen.

I to We Devotional

Our Daily Bread

Sarah Young

Wagner's update:

Greetings Friends, God is Moving - In the hearts of our dorm boys “Do I just know about Jesus, or do I know Jesus?” “How do I know if I really am a Christian?” “What does it mean to follow Jesus?” These are just a few of the questions that the boys have asked this term. They are really seeking to understand what it truly means to know and follow Jesus. It is very exciting that the boys are initiating these conversations and asking these questions. We’re so thankful that one of them made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart! PRAY that God will continue His work in the hearts of each of our nine dorm boys and that we will be sensitive to what He is doing and the questions our boys are asking. We were recently reminded in our dorm devotions that Jesus was just 12 years old when He stayed behind in Jerusalem after Passover. His parents returned to the city frantically searching for Him and found Him teaching in the temple. He was just 12 years old! The same age as many of our dorm boys.   God is Moving - In the hearts throughout Africa Muslims throughout the world are observing Ramadan this month. Each day Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk, even being careful to not swallow their own spit. They are hoping that this will be a time that they can earn credit with God and come closer to him. They are spiritually searching and are more open to spiritual conversations. PRAY that Muslims throughout the world will meet Jesus during this time of searching. Here is a great prayer resource (30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World 2025) to pray for the Muslim world this month.   Africa is full of unrest right now. Unrest is really not a strong enough word --- in eastern Congo there is essentially a war going on that has displaced so many people, even the UN Peacekeepers. Rape, murder, and child slavery are a daily part of life in this region. Seventy Christians were gathered together in a church and beheaded. God’s intervention is so needed in the hearts and lives of people in central Africa today. PRAY!   Moving Ahead! A little over two weeks until the end of this school term! Our boys are ready to *MOVE* home and spend significant time with their families. Next week, we will be leading a group of juniors and seniors on an African Field Studies trip to South Africa. The students have been learning about the history of South Africa and the many challenges that are facing South Africa today. We will have some great opportunities to meet with people who are ministering in the Cape Town area. Our student group is very diverse, and we believe this will be an eye-opening experience for them. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and that the hearts of each student will be open to what God wants to teach them during this trip.   After the term ends, we’re excited for the opportunity to make a quick trip stateside to visit our grandson (and his parents), spend a few days with Micah and Lynnsi, and attend the wedding of one of our RVA sons. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and a wonderful time reconnecting with family & friends. Finally, looking ahead to next year, there are still some needs to be filled at RVA. The one that hits closest to home is a math teacher for 1st term (September to November) to fill in for a teacher on home assignment. Spanish, French, Art, Wood Tech, Computer Science, Band and elementary school teachers are also needed. We have a need for dorm parents: high school boys, high school girls and junior high boys. Finally, we are seeking a child safety officer, a therapist/school-based counselor, registered nurses and a pediatric doctor. Perhaps YOU could fill one of these roles, serving families throughout Africa. Please PRAY that God would move in the hearts of people who have a strong desire to be part of the ministry of Rift Valley Academy and are able to serve in one of these important roles. We appreciate your faithful prayers, Brian & Missy