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Saturday, April 26 2025
Hosanna! Praise be to He who comes in the name of the Lord! Today we celebrate and remember that triumphal entry, humbly on the colt of a donkey! No one had a clue that this day would be the beginning of the end that would come on that cruel cross.
Wed evening dinner huddle will pick up where we end today and celebrate the last supper with communion. (all are welcome! We will explore that last evening before the end.
Then next Sunday we will celebrate the end of the beginning and the Resurrection with communion as we remember the day the stone was rolled away and the new covenant was ushered in. It was the new beginning from what appeared to be the end.
All are welcome Wed and Sunday! Who are you bringing along? Who need to meet our Lord and Savior. Pray into that and ask for boldness and courage to invite. God has someone for you!
Today we will remember how Jesus said that if we are quiet, even the rocks would cry out. Let's not be quiet but shout hosanna and invite God to come inhabit our praise! He alone is worthy! Amen!
Good Morning Worshippers of the King Whose Time Has Come! Yes! Hosanna! Praise be he Lord who comes humbly and who will triumph! Hosanna!
See you all soon! Check out the devos below as you prepare your hearts to worship! Hosanna!
ODB:
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After our family held a riverside memorial service for my father, we each selected a stone to help us remember him. His life had been a checkerboard of wins and losses, but we knew his heart had been for us. My fingers traced my stone’s smooth surface and helped me remember to hold him close.
In Luke 19, Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem while the crowds waved palm branches, shouted Hosannas, and cheered, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 38; see John 12:12-13). In the Pharisees’ disdain of what they perceived to be a blasphemous claim of messiahship, they ordered Jesus to tell the disciples to be quiet. Jesus replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40).
The stones do cry out—in many ways. God has used stones throughout the story of His love for us. Two rough-hewn stones carried ten chiseled commandments to tell us how to live (Exodus 34:1). Stones of remembrance piled by the Jordan River and in the middle of the river reminded generations of Israelites of God’s provision and faithfulness (Joshua 4:8-9 nlt). The one rolled into place to contain Jesus’ body is the same one that rolled away to show He had risen (Matthew 27:59-66; Luke 24:2). We “hear” this stone as it reminds us of Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
Listen to the stones and lift your own voice along with them in praise to our loving Father.
By Elisa Morgan
REFLECT & PRAY
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How have the stones of God’s work in our world “cried out” to you? What message might God intend for you to take to heart?
Dear Father, thank You for using even stones to speak of Your love.
For further study, read Give Me a Sign
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Some scholars believe that Jesus’ statement in Luke 19:40 that “if [the crowds] keep quiet, the stones will cry out” is a reference to Habakkuk 2:11: “The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” Others suppose that the stones in view are the stones of the very gates themselves, as seen in Psalm 118:19-20: “Open for me the gates of the righteous . . . the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.” Whether Luke 19:40 echoes an Old Testament text or not, it’s an example of poetic imagery where inanimate objects praise God (see also Psalm 114:6; Psalm 148; Isaiah 55:12). Jesus had often refused praise during His earthly ministry. Now He not only accepted it but encouraged it. When humans fail to praise the Creator, the creation itself will praise God.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Palm Sunday
If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. - Jeremiah 15:19 (NRSVUE)
I try to serve God in as many ways as possible — in my church, in my neighborhood, and through my work. I teach English at a Christian secondary school, and I lead a weekly devotional time for the 13- and 14-year-old students. We read a few verses from the Bible and then discuss them. I ask open-ended questions, and I try to draw the students closer to the Bible story by connecting ordinary examples from our lives to the verses we have read.
I do my best to share my faith and God’s love with the students. I talk about my faith experiences, but sometimes I feel that the message is too personal. I want to speak about God’s love, not about my feelings and problems. Before I lead each devotional time, I pray, “Lord, what do you want me to talk about? What is your message to these students today?” I want to humbly share God’s message and bless these 70 young people through my words.
As I lead the devotional time, I always feel that the Holy Spirit is with us. I see how carefully the students listen. I pray that God’s message reaches and touches their hearts. I am not afraid to talk anymore because the Lord leads my heart, mind, and lips. I am happy and honored to be God’s messenger to the children of our school.
Today's Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us. Give us strength and courage to work and speak in your name. Amen.
Saturday, April 26 2025
Good Morning Communing with God, Feasting on His Word, Followers of Jesus! Please Lord! This morning something unique happened. I slept in. WHAT? So after spending my quiet time with the Lord and inviting Him to teach me and you, here's what He revealed toady. What did He say to you today? What might you do about that?
First of all, I am so humbled how God uses me to teach His Word, mentor you and lead His Church! Thanks Lord! Sometimes I have to repent of pride as I think about the way He leads and teaches through me. It is all Him and for Him and His people! I am just His faithful servant who invites the Holy Spirit to speak to me, help to remember His Word and to teach through me. I also always try to invite Him to open your hearts and minds as well. He is faithful to do so and I am faithful to dwell in Him and His Word daily and ingest and meditate on His Word. He is faithful to bring to mind what needs to be taught and shared. Last night was another example of that as we studied Luke 22 and John 17 from events that transpired during the last days of Jesus' life before the cross. Last night the Holy Spirit led us to celebrate the remembrance of that first Lord's Supper as we read about it in Luke 22 and allowed Jesus' words to institute and lead us through communion. It was pretty cool to think about being there and Jesus teaching us and thinking about how the disciples would have been clueless about the broken bread and wine as spilled blood until they celebrated the Lord's Supper after the ascension with the very first believers. (see Acts 2:42).
If you are looking for some passages to draw close and dwell in today, I'd suggest those three above. Last night I suggested that instead of washing each others feet, maybe we could wash each other's hands. One of our devos for today (the Upper Room below) speaks of a church that does that. I think we'll need to try that sometime as we humble ourselves, die to self and do what Jesus did....love each other and serve each other in humility. Who might God want you to humbly serve today and forgive and love on. Remember He did this after the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus showed them God's way. And he reminds us that He came to serve and not to be served. What's that look like for you and our Body?
The devo that I most want to share is the one that really affirmed me and spoke to my heart--TWFYT (below). It's how God uses me, speaks to me, leads me, teaches me and through me. My prayer is to always teach and lead like Jesus and not to add to or take away from His Word as commanded. Meditate on this devo and pray for me. But also remember that we are all priests unto the Lord and called to share His love, salvation and Word with others. His Word is our instruction manual and road map. His Word is Truth and Life. His Word cuts to bone and marrow. Jesus is His Living Word. Who do you know that needs some of that today. What are God's plans to bring that to life through you this weekend with family and friends? He is speaking to you all the time and wanting to use you and has gifted you to bring His Word alive in word, deed and actions. How will you respond today? Invite Him in. Dwell in and ingest His Word. Bring His Living Word to life as you ask for help to live, love, teach, lead and make disciples like Jesus.
In this life, Christ is all that matters and He lives in you. That became available that first Resurrection Sunday and with your faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Life in Christ lived well boils down to this: embrace the Greatest and new commandments to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as Jesus has loved you (agape love), and then living out the Great Commission where Jesus says, Go! Make disciples of all nations, teaching them all I have taught you and baptizing them. To teach them well we need to actually open and ingest His Living Word. How's that going for you? Recently many have said they don't really know and want to know God's Word better. I'm praying for that and for His Word to come alive to and through us. However, you actually have to open His Word, spend time with God in it, memorize it and ingest it. Then when needed the Holy Spirit will give you the Words to share and even the words to wield against Satan. Amen! We are called to be doers of His Word. That's how good fruit buds and grows. What's that look like for you? How might you start pursuing that more earnestly? Who will you partner with to dwell in and study His Word with? Besides prayer, being in His Living Word and being a doer of it are the the most important roles in His Good News Delivery Company and as a member of His Body. The other part is allowing Him to use your gifts to bless others and grow His Church. So...what will you do about that? Who are your co-laborers in Christ? Pray into that! Open His Word. Go produce good fruit. I'm praying for you! There is so much joy awaiting you as you step into this more earnestly! You are blessed to be a blessing and God is with you, empowering you and has created and gifted you to do all he plans for you to do! PTL! You are His Masterpiece! And you have great potential in Christ! Pursue it in prayer with open Bibles and willing hearts and feet! Shalom!
UR: Maundy Thurs
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:17 (NIV)
For seven years I belonged to a rural Mennonite congregation that met in a little country church. One older woman, Greta, had made it clear when I joined that she resented me because I am a Marine Corps veteran. Mennonites are traditionally pacifists, believing that taking a life — even in war — is murder.
When I approached the hand-washing basin at my first Maundy Thursday service at the church, I was surprised when it was Greta who gently took my hand and led me to the basin. Her actions were tender as she bathed my hands in the clean water, wrapped them in a soft white towel, and patted them dry. I then washed her hands. I noted how worn her hands were by her many years of working in her garden, cooking in the kitchen, caring for children. I was unexpectedly humbled and moved to tears. Before stepping away from the basin to make way for the next two women, Greta and I embraced. Following the Lord in loving service to one another can transform our lives and relationships.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to love one another as you have loved us. Help us to look for opportunities to find common ground even when we disagree. Thank you for your beautiful example of servanthood. Amen.
TWFYT:
Prayer starters
- Praise God as the all-knowing one.
- Thank God for caring enough for you to teach you his ways and warn you when you stray.
- Confess times of willful ignorance of his ways.
- Commit to listening and following God’s directions.
- Ask him to provide faithful teachers and examples for you.
- Pray that you will be diligent in teaching those under your care. Ask God to help you be an excellent model for your children (or for the children of your friends).
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Saturday, April 26 2025
Today:
10-12 Bread Ministry
6-7:30 Dinner Huddle Holy Week worship with communion. All welcome! (It's a pizza party too!)
Good Morning Followers of Jesus, Our Messiah! Amen! He is our Lord and Savior and we have the benefit of His Spirit in us and 20/20 hindsight vision of all that transpired that week and up until today. Jesus spent this week teaching and pouring into His followers and those who came to see, hear and learn. Some received with open hearts and minds and some didn't. All had no idea what was to come. We too, never know what will be next but we do know that Jesus is the way, truth and life and our corner stone we build upon. We have seen that despite appearances, God knows, has a plan and is at work. And soon Jesus would commission His disciples tp go and make disciples and promise to be with them always. he is with us always and that commissioning still stands, as well as, His new commandment to go love as He has loved us and to build His Church. He is with us and we are gifted and created to live and love like Him and carry on His mission. What's your part? Talk to God about that today as you engage with my I to We devo below. He has great plans for you despite how things may appear. He has created, saved, gifted, empowered and is sending you. How might that look as you die to self, take up cross and follow Him today? Yesterday I shared the Lord's Supper with several over 95 year old's who know their purposes and that is to pray and encourage others. I and we have been prayed over and they want to encourage us to stay connected to Jesus through whatever we face and to trust Him to use you as you are and gifted to build His Church. And I say Amen! Can you feel their and many other's prayers? They are powerful and effective and your prayers and obedience are needed too. I'm praying for you and no matter what God has in store for you today, he will be there and with you and use you, if you allow Him to. Go! Live and love like Jesus today! Amen!
I to We
Friday, April 11 2025
TONIGHT 6:30 Support team Zoom Meeting (Please pray for wisdom and for God to direct us. Thanks!)
***SAT. Clean-up postponed until next Sat April 19th at 10am***
Good Morning Living and Loving Like Jesus Partners! Howdy partners! Yee Haw!!! What an awesome ride we have been on! Sometimes it can feel like we are riding a bull or crashing from him. Sometimes it can feel like steer wrestling. Sometimes we know the thrill of victory and sometimes the agony of defeat. BUT GOD! Through whatever the journey brings, God is with us! He knows you and calls you by name. PTL! He picks you up when you are a crumpled mess on the ground--well if you allow Him to! He leads you down the trail to His best plans and destinations. He has a perfect journey for you to reach your full potential n Christ and to to become like Him and even to do the things He has planned for you. How awesome and praiseworthy is Almighty God--our Friend! Amen! Even in the hardest of things we can kind joy as we trust our Trail Boss. He has even herded us together for great plans He has for us as His Herd/Flock/Team. PTL! And like a cattle drive, He has given us some trail partners to travel with. Doesn't all of that make you just want to pause and worship? It does me! I've been worshipping and abiding for several hours now and invited God to come write this for us to ponder. He's so kind and good and loving and ever faithful to help us and lead us. PTL! How might He be leading you to worship and offer yourself to Him this morning? Who may he be leading you to team with for this day? Seek first His Kingdom and He will add all you need to be productive fruit producers and disciples of Jesus. PTL!
Here's a link to the song from Sunday that helps us as we worship and abide and surrender and trust and obey: You are Chosen! He's calling you by name. He's set you apart and is making you brand new as He leads you from what was to what is and what can be in Christ--His perfect plans for you! Yes PTL! What love!
This week has been busy and even a struggle at times. There are always things going on in the background that can distract us from God's best or being used by Satan to tie us up in the tyranny of the urgent to keep us from choosing God's best plans and ways. Please! Turn off the noise and refocus on God. He's there waiting for you and calling you to come abide in His love and to allow Him to lead you to His easy yoke and best plans for you. PTL! Then there are times God is very evident and shows you affirmation and that His presence is very real in the moments. Yesterday was a day of both. And because of His loving presence I have these great memories and stories that far outweigh and over-ride the chaos and noise and hurts. What an amazing day of ministry yesterday at Donut Day. We are still sharing stories of God's faithfulness and how He used us and was at work in people's lives. You really have to experience this to fully understand. But man was God present and at work in many different ways and with many different people and situations. PTL! Yesterday, I almost stayed home as Satan had me feeling ill and wanting to just go to bed. But, through Christ I overcame and followed the Spirit and was rewarded with much joy of God using me and blessing others. Sometimes we just have to say, "Satan. be gone!" he will flee and all of a sudden the Light shines, Love fills us and we find ourselves back on the trail with our Trail Boss leading the way. Amen!
Last night we watched the Tim Tebow video and had a great discussion as he reminded us that everything flows from the greatest Commandment: Love God and people. And the importance of offering God what you have and how He will bless you and multiply what you offer and lead you to His perfect plans. He asked, "Are you willing to give what you have to be used by God?" he rightly proclaimed that as we do, God is faithful to use and multiply our offerings. He said, Our lives matter and that shows up as we love God and people with what we've been given. Amen! You matter! You do love well! Keep it up! God will use whatever you release to Him and He will love through you and bless you as you are, where you are and through whatever you are facing. So stop. Turn off the noise. refocus on God and abide for a spell. Then release what you have and he will bless and use you for His glory. Try it! He really does have some custom made easy things for you to do today! PTL! Will you make room for Him to use you? Will you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Will you allow Him to love through you today? try it! Meditate on this song as you still yourself and surrender and then engage with the Truth of the devos below. God really loves you! Abide. trust and follow well! I already prayed for you! God is waiting! be still and know, trust and go with Him! Know His love, joy and peace! Amen!
ODB:
Most people know about the Wright Brothers—Orville and Wilbur—who invented, built, and flew the first successful airplane in the early 1900s. But few know the name Katherine Wright. Yet in her brothers’ story of creating their flying machine, Katherine was essential to their success. While her brothers concentrated on the myriad details and experiments that led to their invention, Katherine chose to quietly and lovingly help them. She kept their bicycle shop going (the brothers’ source of income), left her teaching job to nurse Orville back to health after a plane crash, and managed the endless details of her brothers’ growing fame.
The value of the support of others is seen in Scripture as well. One example is Phoebe, mentioned by Paul as a “benefactor of many people” (Romans 16:2). And Priscilla and Aquila, a helpful couple presented in Paul’s writing, hosted churches where Paul ministered and even “risked their lives” for him (v. 4). Additionally, the apostle complimented Mark, saying he was “helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
We can be the right brothers and sisters in Christ by serving others. The ongoing work of God needs helpers like Phoebe—and us—guided by Him to serve this way: “In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but . . . to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
By Dave Branon
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Who needs your help? What can you do to serve others in Jesus’ name?
Dear God, please show me how to humbly serve others for Your glory.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s list of greetings at the end of Romans represents the many people he met during his journeys of sharing the hope of Jesus. Many of the believers in Christ whom he impacted (and who impacted him in return) ended up in Rome, and so he had a great deal of people waiting there for him before he even arrived. Both men and women shared in the apostle’s work of evangelism, paving the way for him in Rome. As we join with other believers in caring for others, we reflect the hearts of those who assisted Paul.
Jed Ostoich |
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Sarah Young
Chuck Swindoll
Friday, April 11 2025
TGIF Friday! Thank God I'm Forgiven! Tell God what that means to you as you abide in His Word and Love!
Good Morning Worshipping, Abiding, Loving, Serving, Friends of God! We love because He first loved us! He loves us so much that He died for our sins! What Love! Abide in that love today and remember no matter what this day brings, it is filtered through His hands and will be used or redeemed for His purposes and so he made this day for His Kingdom plans and for us and we get to worship in it! Yes, rejoice! He's given us His Word to guide us and the Holy Spirit to bring it alive for us. We get to abide in His Word and His love! Yes, rejoice! Our God is not dead, stagnant or distant. He is with us and always at work and up to something new. he's custom made and gifted you for such a time as this and is with you always! Yes, rejoice! And He has blessed us to go bless and love on others and often in new and exciting and even easy custom made ways! Yes, rejoice! This is the day the Lord has made and you are the one he has made, saved and is leading to His new and perfect plans to go and love more like Him today! Yes, rejoice! This is a day to still and offer ourselves as we abide in Him and His Word, worship and then trust and follow Him as He loves through us! What joy we can know and abide in! Yes, rejoice! be still and know, trust and go in His love! rejoice, abide and follow well today! Check out the devos below as you abide, load up and prepare to go with Him. Yes, rejoice! Amen!
Sarah Young
I to We
UR: A New Thing
The Lord says, “I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” - Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
Recently, I read Isaiah 43:19 again and was surprised that God had to ask the Israelites, “Do you not perceive it?” How can God be doing a new thing and it not be perceived? Having worked as a gardener for several years, images of gardens that were overgrown and left unattended came to mind. If a garden is neglected, the grass grows too high; nettles, thistles, and other weeds take over where flowers once thrived; trees are never pruned, taking up too much space. A new flowering plant would be difficult to see in such a garden!
Similarly, when our lives are overgrown with relationship troubles, money worries, ill health, and other problems, it can be difficult to see the new thing God is doing. Sometimes we need help to see that God is indeed at work in our lives. Jesus describes God as a gardener in John 15:1-2. Sometimes we need God to trim our excessive spending and sort out thorny financial problems, to dig out the roots of our bad habits and prune our tendency to talk unfairly about others. When we focus on Jesus, we can more clearly see the work that God is doing in our lives.
Today's Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for caring for us. Help us to see the new thing you are doing in our lives. Amen.
TWFYT
- Praise God for his love (1 Jn. 4:16).
- Give thanks that “we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16).
- Confess those times when you fail to love others. Commit yourself to laying down your life for your brothers and sisters in Christ (3:16).
- Ask God to drive all fear away with perfect love (1 Jn. 4:18).
- Ask God to expose the foolishness and treachery of the kingdom of darkness.
- Pray that the forces of the kingdom of God, in politics, education, science, media, business, entertainment, church, etc., will be united and focused in their efforts.
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Friday, April 11 2025
Good Morning Following to the New Things of God Friends! Please Lord! May we forget what's behind and/or build on it as we seek you and long to follow You to the new things You have for us today, this week, this year and beyond. Your Word reminds us that You are always doing something new or wanting to through Your people. may we be a people that seek, release what was, receive what is and is to be and follow Jesus well. Thanks Lord! Come and lead us! Amen!!!
Today during my pastor's huddle we discussed all the things that need to happen at our Twin Pines Camp. It's a wreck and we almost lost it. Many are dealing with the tyranny of the urgent to make camp safe while seeking God for His plans and new things as we move forward. Pray for camp, provision, workers and for campers for the summer. Like for pour church, ask for dreams and visions for the future and willing hearts, hands and feet to follow the Holy Spirit to it.
Today s Donut Day. Come join us! Tonight is our dinner huddle. Bring a friend! I've gotta fly. Please spend some time engaging with God with two devos below and your open Bibles. He's speaking and wanting to lead you and us. What's he saying and what are His plans? What will you do about that! Offer yourself. he does have great plans for you and us! I'm praying we seek and follow well to all the new things He has for us! Shalom! may His joy and love overflow you today!
ODB: Read and meditate on Isaiah 43:18-25. What's God saying to you?
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Julie and her husband felt sadness and regret when they learned that their daughter had been shoplifting. But with God’s help, when she came to them weighed down with sorrow, they forgave her—and they helped her make restitution and receive counseling. Some months after the revelation, when their daughter made an offhand comment about how they might not trust her anymore, Julie wondered, What does she mean? She didn’t immediately think about her daughter’s offense because God had removed the sting of it from her mind. She had decided not to dwell in the past but had asked God to help her forgive.
In that moment, God gave Julie a taste of His goodness and grace as she experienced the love He extends to His people. God told His people not to “dwell on the past” because He was “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19). He also made the beautiful declaration, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (v. 25). God could choose to hold our sins against us, but because of His love and mercy, He doesn’t. When we repent, He wipes our record clean.
Although our forgiven wrongdoing may have a negative impact on our lives and that of others, God will never hold that offense against us. He will enfold us in His mercy and grace.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you experienced the surprising love of God? How does His grace change and transform you?
Forgiving Father, thank You for running toward me with love. Please help me to turn from my sinful ways and return to You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Isaiah 43:22-24, God grieves His people’s failure to turn from their sins; yet He offers hope. He’s a loving God who forgives. He alone can blot out sins (v. 25). He’s the one who “forgives all [our] sins” and “redeems [our] life from the pit” (Psalm 103:3-4). “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (vv. 11-12). Jesus accomplished this once and for all through His sacrificial death on the cross. Now “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just” to forgive and make us clean (1 John 1:9). Finally, when we trust in Jesus, God “remembers [our] sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25).
Alyson Kieda |
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UR: Words and Deeds. Hw does God want to use you in small and big ways today? How might you join Him r partner with some others to do so?
Faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. - James 2:17 (CEB)
The plane turbulence was moderate, but I’d experienced far worse. However, when I turned to the college-aged person sitting next to me, I saw from the look on her face that she was terrified. I decided to talk to her, explaining what was happening, how long it generally lasted, and assuring her that the first time I experienced similar turbulence was unpleasant as well. Gradually, both she and the plane settled. When it was time to descend for landing, we started to experience more turbulence. She asked if I could talk her through everything again. I did.
Sometimes we underestimate the power of words, thinking that only our actions matter in God’s eyes. After all, hoping someone will be fed or will find shelter is far different than directly providing for them. Yet I’ve learned that sometimes our words and our deeds become one and the same. What that young woman needed more than anything was a reassuring voice.
As we were exiting the plane she said, “I don’t know how to thank you.” I told her that I imagined her on an airplane a few decades from now, having become an experienced traveler. I imagined her turning to someone else and helping them on their way. We can all provide words that are deeds at various points in our lives, depending on the circumstance.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to be aware of the needs of others, even when they might be too troubled to speak. Help us offer what is needed — whether that be words or actions. Amen.
Friday, April 11 2025
Good Morning Earnestly Pursuing Christ Co-Laborers! Please Lord! May that be us and may we find our teammates and helpers and be good ones too as we spur each other on to the good works You have planned. May others see you, Your love and our faithfulness and be drawn to You. Come fill us, unite us and send us in love! Amen!
As we pursue Christlikeness, we often fail and fall short. After all, we are not Christ nor fully like Him yet. We are on a journey that sometimes has some deep valleys and steep hills to climb. We will often fail. But we do our best to seek, repent, renew our thinking and ways and strive earnestly to become more like Jesus and do what we are created to do as His image bearers. May we be steadfast in our pursuit and focused on Christ always. Being a member of God's Body and teammates can be messy and hard at times, but it is one of our commanded pursuits--Jesus said to live and love like Him as one. Help us Lord! We are commanded that if we come to the altar with our offerings and remember an offense to a co-laborer or other that we should leave our gift and go correct the situation before carrying on with our worship. Today God has highlighted that to me as I awoke thinking about a situation from Sunday and someone that I need to forgive and then correct myself and work at unity before helping to correct in love. Our devos below seem to be highlighting that thinking as well. God sure does speak and get our attention at times! How do you respond when that happens? Surrender, repent, renew your thinking, forgive and go love like Jesus as your act of worship when this happens. And so today, that is my plan. I will be reaching out to our PRC to help me and hold me accountable and maybe to be mediators if needed. That is the Jesus way we are called to pursue. Help me Lord! Be in this situation. Open hearts and minds and rectify this. Lead this and may I agape love well today--please! Thanks! Amen!
Who has God brought to your mind right now? What will you do about it? Who are your helpers to spur you on, pray for and with you and mediate if needed? Talk to God and them about this and then die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus as you continue to work at living and loving more like Him today! I'm praying for you! Remember, everyone is not like you nor where you are in your journey to Christlikeness. We are called to patient love like God shows us. Pursue that! I sure need to!
The Word God has for me for you today is to listen, abide and respond well to the Holy Spirit in you and His prodding to Christlikeness. And to earnestly pursue Christ and His ways with surrendered, willing and ready hearts! We are called to live and love like Jesus. What's getting in the way of that or for you to hear Him and respond well? Repent and find some teammates to help! We are made for love and unity and anything that hinders that or gets in the way of abiding in Love needs to be corrected like Jesus would, with agape love and earnestness. They will know we are Christians by our love and unity in Christ. Let's work on that today! I'm trying. May God be in it and lead it and lead us to our partners and unity and love. Amen! Come Jesus! Your will be done, Your way. Amen. May we live and love more and more like Jesus today!
ODB
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I stopped behind a car at a red light the other day and noticed a bright sticker on the rear window boldly stating: “New Driver. Please Be Patient.” Given all the road rage we hear about (or experience), what a great reminder to be patient with other drivers.
As I looked at the sticker, I wondered what would happen if people carried around signs that alerted us that they’re a “New Parent” or “New Christian.” If we knew what our neighbors, coworkers, or others we encounter throughout our day were going through, would we be more patient and even help them deal with their struggles?
We may be rushing through our days, trying to avoid being interrupted by others, but let’s consider how Jesus treated people. He wasn’t in a hurry. He had compassion on people and took the time to comfort and teach and show love to those He encountered.
As believers in Jesus, we’re called to “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received” (Ephesians 4:1). The apostle Paul says that includes being “completely humble and gentle; [being] patient, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2); and making every effort to live in peace and unity with each other (v. 3).
We may not know what challenges people are facing, but we can be patient with them. Let’s be an expression of Jesus’ love to everyone we encounter on our daily path.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
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How can you be more patient with others? Who can you be a blessing to today?
Dear God, please help me to be more loving and patient with those You place in my path.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When calling for gentleness and patience as believers in Jesus relate with each other, Paul recognized how difficult this can be. “Bearing with one another” (Ephesians 4:2) could also be translated “putting up with one another.” The same word is used in Mark 9:19, where Jesus says, “You unbelieving generation . . . . How long shall I put up with you?” Paul doesn’t naively imagine that maintaining unity in relationships with fellow believers will be easy, and he doesn’t call for believers to always have positive feelings for each other. Instead, following Christ’s example of humble, patient service, believers make the choice to “make every effort” (Ephesians 4:3) to press on in the difficult work of cultivating unity. Even within significant differences and relational friction, it’s possible to demonstrate Christlike love for each other.
Monica La Rose |
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Sarah Young
UR: Trusting the Lord
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. - Jeremiah 17:7 (NRSVUE)
Where I live, we have only two seasons — wet and dry. April and May are usually the hottest months, and for the past few weeks we’ve been experiencing extremely hot days with no rain.
Recently our water source was drying up and my family’s water pump stopped working. I read a news headline claiming that we have an 80 percent chance of experiencing the climate pattern known as El Niño in the coming weeks. I was scared by this possibility because El Niño’s warm waters are associated with drought in my country. It was already hotter than we could bear. How much harder would it be without water? What would my family drink?
God surely knows what we need and when we need it. As I was reading my journal, I saw that a few days back I had written down Jeremiah 17:5-10. The passage compares those who trust in man and those who trust in the Lord. Verse 8 says those who trust in the Lord will be like a tree planted by water and will not be anxious when drought comes. This reminded me to trust and fix my eyes and heart on God. Regardless of the changing seasons, I can trust God will remain faithful through it all.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, we know you are faithful and trustworthy. Help us to fix our eyes on you, no matter what we are going through. Amen.
TWFYT
Friday, April 11 2025
This Week:
Please note Tuesday Zoom Huddle is canceled for this week. Thanks!
Wed 10-12 Donut Day at Bread Ministry
Wed 6-7:30 Dinner Huddle
Sat. 10 AM Weed. plant and mulch party at church.
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Good Morning Clay! We are the workmanship of the Master Potter who forms, reforms, redeems and shapes us to be His vessel. PTL! What's it like for you to be clay in the hands of the Potter? Talk to Him about that and maybe process that with some others. Are you supple and willing to die to self to allow His transforming, refining work? Have you allowed the baking of the Potter's furnace to finish His work? You are His Masterpiece (according to Eph 2:10) made new in Christ to do what God had planned for you before you were born. Has your life entered the finishing phase or is it still being shaped? No matter. He is working all things together and shaping us to be more like Jesus! Amen! May we be available, supple and willing to die to self to allow His master work to shine forth through us! Amen!
Yesterday we discussed what a Jesus shaped life looks like as we thought about the finishing work that was happening with the 12 as they approached that first "Holy Week". He was busy pouring into His disciples and shaping the events of the week. He was finishing up His work and preparing them to step out and carry on the mission. This week we will contemplate what it may have been like to be one of His followers this final week of His earthly ministry. What can we learn and apply as we allow Him to shape and mold us into Christlikeness and our fuller, activated potential in Christ. Talk to God about that and process with some others as you meditate on the devos below. Begin with the song we ended with yesterday as we offer ourselves and allow the One who chose you, the Potter to rework us today and prepare us as His vessels. Come Potter have Your way. Mold, shape and prepare us and use us as we are during this refining process of moving from one way in Christ to our better, fuller potential. We were one way and now another because of Christ! Amen! Come Jesus! Your Kingdom come and will be done! Thank You for Choosing me and continuing Your good work in, through and around me! Amen!
Start with this song: I Am Chosen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE50gfQUUC4
Sarah Young
I to We
ODB
God with Us Age to Age
You whom I have upheld since your birth. . . . Even to your old age . . . I am he who will sustain you. Isaiah 46:3-4
READ Isaiah 46:3-9
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A Danish study explored the phenomenon most of us have experienced: perceiving ourselves as younger than we really are. The findings suggest a constant—whatever our current age, we all see ourselves as 20 percent younger. A fifty-year-old tends to imagine herself as forty years old. (This conjures up a comical scenario in which a child thinks, “Wow, I’m five, but I feel I have the energy and looks of a four-year-old!”)
It doesn’t take a scientific study to state the obvious: We’re all growing older. And Scripture has much to say about this. Isaiah’s words were issued to an Israel that had aged and become weary, but as one commentator says, “This promise to Israel, enfeebled and grown old as a nation, is applicable to every aged follower of Christ.”
The prophet reminds us of God’s provision throughout the life of everyone who has been faithful to Him: “I have upheld [you] since your birth, and have carried [you] since you were born” (Isaiah 46:3).
So as we stew and fret about growing older, we’re reminded that God is still with us. He promises: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you” (v. 4). Whatever age you are (or the 20-percent-younger version you imagine yourself to be!), embrace today God’s promise: “I have made you and I will carry you” (v. 4).
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
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In what ways do you wrestle with concerns about aging? How do you find comfort in Isaiah’s words?
Dear God, I’m feeling weary and tired. Please give me Your strength. I ask that You sustain me and carry me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Isaiah 46:5, God asks, “With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?” The answer to this rhetorical question is that no one is like God. Often when the question “Who is like God?” is asked in the Bible, it’s answered in part by reflecting on an aspect of His matchless character. For example, in Psalm 71:19, the psalmist reflects on God’s surpassing righteousness, and in Micah 7:18, the prophet ponders God’s “unfailing love” (nlt). Other verses in the Old Testament that ponder the character of God, the one who will be with us forever, include Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 3:24; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8, 10; 89:6, 8; 113:5; and Isaiah
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Connection
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April 7 - Jesus – Provider…Not Performer
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“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (John 6:12-15).
If an answered prayer brings us closer to submission to God’s purposes, then the prayer has served its purpose—to focus on hallowing the Father’s name, to advance the rule of God’s kingdom and for His will to be done on earth as in heaven. Here the prayer for daily bread becomes an extension of “your kingdom come.”
But if answered prayer produces within us a manipulative yearning to see God “do it again,” and He becomes a performer doing encores after the curtain comes down on the show, we enter the realm of demonic power instead of godly submission.
Demons seize hold in order to make others do their will. Demons distract people from the kingdom agenda, promise fulfillment, and in the end remove human freedom. Demonic power manipulates in order to control.
God’s power invites us to come to Him and die with Him that He might accomplish the blessing of the many. Jesus’ ministry is focused on restoring what is lost, on returning people to fullness and to self-giving, that we might be able to choose Him, not based on manipulative demand, but on pure love. The crowd in John 6 didn’t understand that the true bread was to know Christ Himself on Christ’s terms.
Lord Jesus, sometimes I don’t understand how people couldn’t see the truth of all that You are when you did miraculous things as God directed. Rather than being grateful, they wanted more amazing signs and wonders. Your love calls us to die so that we might live. Continue to transform my life to complete fullness of all that You are – not so I will see the miraculous, but so that I will see only You! Draw me towards who You are because of the depth of my love for You, not because of what You do so that I can begin to experience Your miraculous works as part of my every day Christian life!
--Adapted from Power Praying (Hearing Jesus’ Spirit by Praying Jesus’ Prayer) by David Chotka.
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- Praise the Lord for being your shepherd (Psalm 23).
- Give thanks for those refreshing times when you experience “green pastures” and “quiet waters.”
- Confess any dissatisfaction concerning God’s care for you.
- Commit yourself to faithfully following the Good Shepherd in every area of your life.
- Ask God to “strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3).
- Ask the Good Shepherd to touch the lives of those who have not yet put their trust in him. Pray that they may experience his loving and redeeming care.
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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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Friday, April 11 2025
Good Morning Worshiping Co=Laborers! All we do can be an act of worship! Prapare your hearts to worship as we look at a Jesus shaped life and see how we are doing at living and loving more like jesus. Are you? he made you and gifted you for such a time as this. may your life be lived more like Jesus' and as an act of worship! I'm praying for you!
I was contemplating this morning what Jesus' worship life looked like. He lived fully for the Father as an act of worship and obedience. may we move towards that with open willing hearts of worship! He is worthy! He alone! What are you living for? How has and is Jesus shaping your life? Everyday we can move closer to our potential to become like Jesus and live and love more like Him. May we hlep and spur each other on to run and completye our races well. We are made to be Christ and incarnate Him to the world and we need each other. let us earnestly pursue that with hearts of surrender and worship!
Check out these devos. What's God saying to you and what will you d about it. his plans are awesome and custom made for you. Put on that easy yoke as you go live and love like Jesus, just as you are, today! AMEN! See you soon! God has a Word for you today! Listen! Follow! Worship! What joy awaits you and us as we trust, obey and live our lives as acts of worship, just like Jesus!
I to We
ODB
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During the US civil rights movement, famed New Orleans cook Leah Chase did what she could. She prepared food and fed those who were marching for equal rights for all people. She said, “I was just feeding people. They were fighting for something, and they didn’t know what they would find when they went out there. They didn’t know what would happen to them on the streets. But when they were here, they knew I’d feed them. That’s what I could do for them.”
The gift of hospitality may sometimes be overlooked, but it can be just as important as other forms of serving one another in Christ. A businesswoman named Lydia—“a dealer in purple cloth” (Acts 16:14)—showed hospitality to Paul and the other preachers spreading the good news about Jesus to the people of Macedonia (vv. 11-15). She used what she had—her home—to help the traveling team. After accepting the gospel message, Lydia insisted on providing a place for the preachers to rest, saying, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, . . . come and stay at my house” (v. 15). Much like the civil rights workers, Paul and his coworkers didn’t need to worry about a meal due to Lydia’s hospitality.
Gifts of hospitality can go a long way in helping all people—both fellow believers and those who still need Jesus. Let’s serve others as God provides what we need to help them.
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
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When has someone’s hospitality helped you? How can you serve others today and help meet their practical needs?
Dear God, thank You for those who’ve shown hospitality to me. Please show me how to serve others in love.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Genuine, selfless expressions of hospitality and kindness can be used by Jesus to encourage His workers. In addition to the “open heart, open home” dynamic in play with Lydia in Acts 16:14-15, we see a similar pattern with the jailer in Philippi. Upon hearing and believing what he and his household needed to do to be saved, he “washed [Paul and Silas’] wounds” (v. 33). Then “the jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them” (v. 34). Acts 28 also records instances of extreme kindness. When Paul was sailing to Rome as a prisoner, a storm forced the ship to come ashore on the island of Malta. He exercised his apostolic gifts among the islanders, and their hospitality was a balm for him (vv. 3-10).
Arthur Jackson |
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TWFYT
Friday, April 11 2025
Good Morning! Praise God for this Holiest of Days--my birthday! haha! Have you ever praised God and offered yourself to Him on your birthday? I do! Think about this: your are fearfully ad wonderfully made n His image, custom made, saved, redeemed, filled, gifted, empowered and sent for such a time as this! What's not to celebrate as it is all God's plan and for His glory! h is an amazing God of wonders, miracles and even saving a wretch like me! Yes PTL! There are a few devos and our connection blogs today that flow through what God is saying to me and you today! Spend some time worshipping, obeying and stepping out in faith today. Praying God allows me to go racing, but whatever his will is is perfect because He will be in it and I am prayed up and ready to join Him today! Are you? This is the day he has made! rejoice and be glad and available in it! he has perfect plans just for you! Amen!
As I turn the calendar to another year, here's the greatest news! Embrace and receive it! Then choose to walk with Jesus as you step into your activated potential and learn to live and love more like Him. That's the best present you can give me today! Amen! BELIEVE! SURREDER! LIVE WELL!
UR: Known by Name
The Lord said, “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” - Isaiah 43:1 (CEB)
My husband is intentional about asking for someone’s name or looking for their name tag and then using it in an encouraging, conversational way. When speaking to a salesclerk, for example, he might say, “Lily — that reminds me of springtime,” or, “Jacob — that’s a Bible name!” Our names personalize us and are openings to further conversation. My husband’s intentionality reminds me that the store clerk I interact with is Sally, who has hopes and dreams of her own. The person who delivers my mail is not a nameless postal carrier but Sam, who has a life, a family, and a story.
In the Bible, names especially have meanings that point to the bearer’s destiny or purpose or that reflect God’s work in their life. For example, Jacob became Israel, Saul changed to Paul, and Simon was called Peter. God has shown us that names have value, even in naming his Son.
We are each important, and our individual names reflect our worth. We can recognize the inherent worth of each person — each child of God — by acknowledging and encouraging (by name whenever possible) the people we encounter each day.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to acknowledge each individual we encounter today, remembering that you have created them in your image. Amen.
Sarah Young
TWFYT
Connections:
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April 5 - What You Seek Reveals Your Passion
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“What are you seeking?” Those are the first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel of John (1:38). What we seek reveals our personal passion. Jesus is interested in my passion, what drives me, what motivates me, what fulfills me. Before considering passion in prayer it would be wise to identify what it is I am really seeking through prayer, thus answering Jesus’ question.
Jesus’ passion was the will of the Father: My food is to do the will of Him who sent me (John 4:34). His prayer flowed from the passion of trust and obedience in that good and loving will. Jesus had no personal agenda for His life or His prayer, did nothing on His own initiative, spoke only what He heard from the Father, and did only what He saw the Father doing (see John 5:19, 30; 8:28, 38, 42).
As we observe Jesus at prayer, our goal is to catch His passion for intimacy with the Father, which for us becomes personal passion in prayer. But pray-er beware! Jesus’ intimacy with the Father incited the religious establishment’s desire to kill Him. Intimacy with God is seldom a crowd pleaser. But it ushers us into the great passionate conversation called prayer. Personal passion in prayer is the difference between blowing a kiss and kissing. It is the movement from smelling bread to eating bread, from knowing about to true knowing.
We ask, “How?” Jesus says, “Come and see.” Come and see where He abides and join Him there. (Compare John 1:38-39 with chapter 15.) Jesus, we come. Teach us to pray with passion.
Holy God, my spirit longs to be filled with passion for all that you are; yet, so many other things in life are continually vying for my time and attention. May my desire to “come and see” grow so deep that nothing can separate me from Your love. Help me to stand firm against the traps of the enemy to draw me towards what is worthless. Keep my heart pure and focused upon life in Your kingdom as I seek more of You alone!
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 23, Jesus as a Role Model of Personal Passion in Prayer by Howard Baker). This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Pray for opportunities to build up and encourage any friends whose spirits may be sagging.
- Pray that the tongue will be an instrument of peace and not strife in your family life.
- Uphold those who teach Christian doctrine in your congregation. Pray that they will be careful to teach the truth. Ask that they might communicate spiritual truths in an engaging and effective manner.
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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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