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Saturday, November 18 2023
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! There is such a richness in this statement that flows to much thanksgiving and praise! What are you thankful about your forgiveness! Keep building those gratitude lists and using them often! He is so worthy of all praise and glory and honor! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Amen!
Here's a couple of different songs with the same title. Great songs to start praising with:
Praise the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q-IQ3DEVSI
Praise the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dy4MzNnQsw
Good Morning Spirit-Filled, Secure, Adventurers! Check out our devotionals below from which this truthful salutation springs forth and pronounce it with anticipation, praise and much thanksgivings! Read and meditate on the Eph. 1:3-14 passage that ties to Our Daily Bread. What's God revealing to you that leads to thanksgiving as you do? Read and meditate on our John 16 reading for this week. Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit, prayer in His name, and talks about His soon cross encounter. What lavish love He has shown to us! Yes Praise the Lord!
After Jesus' death and after His ascension to heaven the disciples felt lonely, afraid and uncertain until they received the Holy Spirit. As we follow Jesus we sometimes will encounter hard and lonely times too. But we do know God is with us and allowing things to draw us closer, stretch our faith, and prepare us for the new things He has. Check out the Upper Room and remember those new comers that are and will be joining us and go out of your way to welcome and get to know them. We know how to love each other well. Let us always do the same for those God is leading to our fellowship. And for those you already know well, you sense and know when something isn't right. Reach out in love, encouragement and prayer to those who are putting on a good face in their struggles.
The Word for You Today reminds us that we can sense and see God at work. God wants us to see and know that He is busy with and all around us and wants us to join Him. He doesn't hide from us even when we try to hide from Him. PTL! Ask God for a spiritual awakening today and pray for Him to "show you what He wants you to see, teach you what He wants you to know, lead you step-by-step in the path of His perfect will." He is pleased to answer that prayer. Keep your eye on Jesus and keep watch for God to be busy around you. have a ready and willing heart to respond as the Holy Spirit reveals. And keep growing into God's character which includes sacrificial love, compassionate help, and faithfulness. That leads to much thanksgiving.
God is leading us on a great adventure! Even refining and hard things can be an adventure as we keep putting our trust in God, keep our focus on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to have His way with us! PTL! We are secure in Christ! We have the Holy Spirit! We know God and He calls us friend! There is enough right there to thank and praise all day! And to keep us busy being about His business. PTL! We are so blessed!
May your day be filled with much thanksgiving, joy and peace! God has some great adventures awaiting!
Here's a song to end your quiet time with praise today! Praise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raFnjGVkHe8
ODB:
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“Christianity is not for me. It’s boring. One of my values I hold on to is adventure. That’s life to me,” a young woman told me. It saddened me that she hadn’t yet learned the incredible joy and excitement that comes with following Jesus—an adventure like no other. I excitedly shared with her about Jesus and how real life is found in Him.
Mere words are inadequate to describe the adventure of knowing and walking with Jesus, God’s Son. But in Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul gives us a small but powerful glimpse of life with Him. God gives us spiritual blessings directly from heaven (v. 3), holiness and blamelessness in God’s eyes (v. 4), and adoption as His own into the King’s royal family (v. 5). He blesses us with the lavish gift of His forgiveness and grace (vv. 7–8), understanding of the mystery of His will (v. 9), and a new purpose of living “for the praise of his glory” (v. 12). The Holy Spirit comes to live in us to empower and lead us (v. 13), and He guarantees eternity in God’s presence forever (v. 14).
When Jesus Christ enters our life, we discover that getting to know Him more and following Him closely is the greatest of adventures. Seek Him now and every day for real life.
By Anne Cetas
REFLECT & PRAY
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How would you describe the life of knowing and walking with Jesus? Who might God want you to share this with?
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and always walking by my side. You’ve given me more than I could have imagined. I love being known and loved by You and sharing You with others.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul delivers Ephesians 1:3–14 in the form of a doxology—or praise—to God. Paul, a Jew, writes to gentile believers in Jesus, assuring them of their adoption (v. 5) into an unparalleled inheritance. When he says, “we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ” (v. 12), he’s speaking of the first believers, who were Jewish. Yet he’s quick to include “you,” that is, the gentiles, who also believed (v. 13). And he gives us great hope: we’re “marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (vv. 13–14).
Tim Gustafson |
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Charles Stanley:
UR: Lonely Hours
I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. - Psalm 120:1 (NIV)
I had always wanted to travel and see other places. I got my wish when I married a meteorologist whose career took us away from our families to the San Francisco Bay area of California. We didn’t know anyone except the people my husband worked with, and none of them lived nearby.
With the cost of housing so high, we had very little money, and I had to find thrifty ways to keep our young son entertained. I took him to the park where he climbed on playground equipment, and we fed ducks in the pond. We rode our bicycles to church, the library, and the grocery store. We had fun, but I struggled with our limited resources and with loneliness. Although we joined a church, the members had known each other for such a long time that it was difficult to fit in as newcomers.
During the lonely hours, I called out to God in prayer, and I became so close to the Lord that I heard God speak to my spirit. Some people have doubted me when I say that the Lord speaks to me. I don’t hear audible words, but I hear God in my heart. As my relationship with God has deepened, I have come to understand that when we reach out to God in difficult times, we may receive a blessing we never imagined.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Thank you, dear Lord, for being with us when we feel alone and for answering our prayers in ways that we could not have imagined. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.TWFYT:
Saturday, November 18 2023
Charles Stanley:
Psalm 77
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph.
1 I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
Oh, that God would listen to me!
2 When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
but my soul was not comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan,
overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude
4 You don’t let me sleep.
I am too distressed even to pray!
5 I think of the good old days,
long since ended,
6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
7 Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
8 Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude
10 And I said, “This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
13 O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?
14 You are the God of great wonders!
You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
15 By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude
16 When the Red Sea saw you, O God,
its waters looked and trembled!
The sea quaked to its very depths.
17 The clouds poured down rain;
the thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.
18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your road led through the sea,
your pathway through the mighty waters—
a pathway no one knew was there!
20 You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.
Upper Room: Serving with Love
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
For several years, I’ve led a prayer group for mothers in my home. We meet in the morning, Monday through Friday. One day, a friend asked me to accompany her to an early-morning medical appointment. I truly wanted to go with her, but at the same time there were other considerations: the great distance to the hospital by public transportation and the relatively slow walking pace because of her need for a walker. Would there be enough time to get her to the appointment and still make it back in time for my prayer group meeting?
My desire to assist her proved far more important than any inconvenience. I asked the Lord to favor us with two gifts — wise planning and good transportation. We left quite early, our ride was on time, and she made it through her appointment successfully. Then I accompanied her home and arrived on time for the start of the prayer group.
That day, I was grateful that with God’s help I was able to perform two works of love that pleased the Lord.
ODB:
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Testimony time was the segment in our church service when people shared how God had been at work in their lives. Auntie—or Sister Langford as she was known by others in our church family—was known for packing lots of praise into her testimonies. On the occasions when she shared her personal conversion story, one could expect her to take up a good bit of the service. Her heart gushed with praise to God who’d graciously changed her life!
Similarly, the testimony of the writer of Psalm 66 is packed with praise as he testifies about what God had done for His people. “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” (v. 5). His deeds included miraculous rescue (v. 6), preservation (v. 9), and testing and discipline that resulted in His people being brought to a better place (vv. 10–12). While there are God-experiences that we have in common with other believers in Jesus, there are also things unique to our individual journeys. Have there been times in your life when God has particularly made Himself known to you? Those are worth sharing with others who need to hear how He’s worked in your life. “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me” (v. 16).
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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How can you more readily share your experiences of God’s goodness with others? How have you been inspired to trust Him more when you’ve heard others share His awesome deeds?
Heavenly Father, I rejoice in the varied expressions of Your kindness to me. Help me not to keep these things to myself.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 66 is a worship song praising God for rescuing His people from an enemy threat. Though the specific circumstances aren’t mentioned, nor the author named, some scholars suggest that King Hezekiah wrote this thanksgiving song after God miraculously defeated the Assyrians in response to his prayer for deliverance (2 Chronicles 32:1–22; Isaiah 36–37). The offering of rams, bulls, and goats (Psalm 66:15) are what a king would sacrifice to God (see 2 Chronicles 30:24). The psalmist recalls the miraculous deliverances in their history—how God led them out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, through the wilderness, and into the promised land (Psalm 66:1–12). The second part of the song is a personal thanksgiving for God answering his prayers (vv. 13–20). The psalmist speaks of an important condition for answered prayer: “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (v. 18 nlt).
K. T. Sim |
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Wednesday, November 15 2023
Good Morning Connected Children of the Promise! Be still and know! Check out our devotionals below. God was busy threading them together with what His purposes are for you and us to enlighten, encourage, equip, and for using us today. Sit at His feet a spell and reload. Turn off the noise and ask for Him to lead you to His best and for help to release the good and better things that keep you from His best. Ask the Holy Spirit to light your path and for wisdom and courage to complete your purposes for today. Then go love the unlovable like Jesus did. Our call as a church and as people is to the least of these that God is drawing. Day Light's burning! Pray for BIG God-sized vision and trust and willing hands and feet. He does have great plans for you today! Reload, rejoice, get ready and go, cat, go!
Thank you for praying for our Finance Team Budget Meeting last night! Thank you to our team for seeking God and trying to be the best stewards while trusting God for the BIG thing that He wants to do. We know that where He guides He provides. It's obvious that we continue to operate with a deficit BUT GOD! We are asking that you suspend all giving at this time to Family Ministries, Benevolence, Outreach, Bread Ministry because these accounts are well funded at this time. Giving to those funds should be above and beyond your normal tithe since they are not funded by our church budget. Please focus on giving to and bolstering the general fund which pays for electric, heating, salaries and all the fixed expenses of the church. Even the rebuilding fund is good for awhile and the general fund could really use that giving. Thanks for understanding. We are trying not to cut and have cut the budget to bare minimum already. So, thanks for all your generous giving! Please help us bolster our main fund and if a need arises we will ask for your help. Also remember that you can designate that your church tithe would continue in your will. Thanks for being givers and great stewards. Just wanting to help direct your giving where needed most. Seek God and allow Him to direct your tithe and offerings where he is directing. He is our Provision, Portion, and Widom! Thank Him!
Charles Stanley
ODB:
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One weekend in March, I led a retreat on the theme of Mary and Martha, the sisters in Bethany whom Jesus loved along with their brother Lazarus (John 11:5). We were in a remote spot along the English coastline. When we were snowed in unexpectedly, many of the participants remarked how the extra day together meant they could practice sitting at Christ’s feet as Mary did. They wanted to pursue the “one thing . . . needed” (Luke 10:42 nkjv) that Jesus lovingly told Martha she should embrace, which was choosing to draw close and learn from Him.
When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Martha wouldn’t have known He was coming in advance, so we can understand how she could have been upset with Mary for not helping with the preparations to feed Him and His friends. But she lost sight of what really mattered—receiving from Jesus as she learned from Him. Christ wasn’t scolding her for wanting to serve Him but rather reminding her that she was missing the most important thing.
When interruptions make us irritable or we feel overwhelmed about the many things we want to accomplish, we can stop and remind ourselves what really matters in life. As we slow ourselves down, picturing ourselves sitting at the feet of Jesus, we can ask Him to fill us with His love and life. We can revel in being His beloved disciple.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
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What distractions keep you from receiving from Jesus? How can you sit at His feet today?
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving to instruct me in Your ways. Help me not to get distracted by my activities, but to focus on You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Martha and her siblings often hosted Jesus in their home in Bethany. When we first meet Martha, she’s busy preparing a meal for Christ and His disciples and is upset that Mary isn’t helping (Luke 10:38–40). In John 11, we learn of Lazarus’ illness, death, and resurrection; and we see the sisters’ reactions. When Christ says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live . . . . Do you believe this?” she replies, “Yes, . . . I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (vv. 25–27). The last time we see Martha, she’s again preparing a meal, but this time she doesn’t protest that Mary isn’t helping (12:1–2). Perhaps she’d learned the importance of the “one” thing (Luke 10:41–42)—listening to, learning from, and worshiping Jesus.
Alyson Kieda |
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TWFYT:
UR: The Power of Acceptance
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to [Bartimaeus], “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” - Mark 10:49 (NIV)
I often recall our eldest daughter’s deep emotional pain and disappointment when a group of adolescent girls rejected her. I suspect if one girl in the group had supported her, she might have been accepted by the whole group. Few of us understand the powerful influences that we can have, either for good or for evil, in group settings.
In Mark 10, we read the story of blind Bartimaeus, who was expendable in the crowd’s eyes. But when Jesus showed compassion and respect for him, others began to see Bartimaeus’s worth as well. Their rebuking tone changed to one of acceptance because of Jesus’ respect for Bartimaeus. They called to Bartimaeus, “Cheer up! On your feet! [Jesus] is calling you.”
It takes courage to accept and love those who have been rejected by society. But we are called to follow Jesus’ example of showing compassion for all. As we love those whom our peers deem unworthy, it will empower our peers to follow our example.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father God, sometimes it’s not easy to accept and love those who are disrespected by others. Through your grace provide us with courage to love all people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, November 14 2023
Good Morning Listening, Receiving, Following Pray-ers! Prayer is that and so much more! Check out what Mother Thresa said, “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive him and keep him as your own.” Be still and know that He is God, He loves you, and wants to hang out with you forever, especially today! Check out our Upper Room devo below too.
Sometimes prayer is easy and sometimes hard, but always profitable! Check out this Harvest Prayer blog for today about praying for God's will to be done. Are you open to that? Praying for that? Ready for that? Be still in prayer today and spend sometime at Jesus' feet as you prepare for the day ahead. God loves you!
November 14 - His Will Be Done
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See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will concerning you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do no despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-23, NASB)
The way the material is shaped, all of the above commands are modified by the phrase “for this is God’s will concerning you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This gives us clear direction for praying “Your will be done.” It is always God’s will to pray for these kingdom initiatives to succeed in your life, in the lives of others, and in your local church. To pray for the kingdom to come and the will to be done then includes at least the following:
- It is always God’s will to pray for a gracious nature that doesn’t return evil for evil.
- It is always God’s will to seek after good for another and for everyone (especially when you have been slighted or done an injustice).
- It is always God’s will to pray for and to practice joy.
- It is always God’s will to deepen your prayer life.
- It is always God’s will to give thanks.
- It is always God’s will to test out when someone claims to speak for God (you do not have to immediately accept every word spoken, but you do need to listen and to test him by Word, Witness, Workers, Worship, and the Will of the believer).
- It is always God’s will to cling to the things that Scripture makes clear are right and true.
- It is always God’s will to avoid or turn away from evil (and in this text to reject false prophecy/spirituality).
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UR: Committing My Life
The Lord said, “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)
Checking items off my daily to-do list used to give me a sense of accomplishment and control over my life. But when my 28-year marriage ended, I began to realize I could not control everything. Before then, I hadn’t surrendered my life to Christ. I knew of God, but I didn’t know God personally.
One day, feeling full of anxiety and fear about my future, I walked to a nearby lake. I sat at a picnic table watching the geese as a cool breeze blew across the lake. It was as if God were speaking to me, wrapping me in an embrace to reassure me of God’s love.
For the first time in my life, I prayed aloud. I said, “Please give me some direction, God. I am so lost.” A sense of peace came over me. From that moment on, I have continued committing my life to God, trusting that God has a greater plan for me than I could ever imagine. My future no longer feels bleak.
In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus told his followers to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness and not to worry about tomorrow. What a comfort it is to know God is with us and we need not worry.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Abba Father, when we are overwhelmed with life’s trials and filled with despair, help us remember your loving presence. Amen.
Tuesday, November 14 2023
The week ahead: (read John 15 and 16 and take notes and answer what God is saying to you and what you will do about that--quiz Sunday)
Tues at 10 Zoom Huddle discussing God's provision. All welcome!
Tues at 6:30 Finance Team Zoom. (Please pray for God to lead our Finance Team to be the best stewards of God's provisions and for wisdom to meet God's visions for our church)
Wed 10-Noon Bread Ministry
Wed 6 PM Dinner, Chosen and Family Ministries Huddles
Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet
Next Tues is our Thanksgiving Eve Eve meal and huddle worship. 6-7:30 All welcome.
Sun Nov 26th is our Brunch after church. RSVP and bring a friend. Check our website for more info: https://www.stmatthewsec.com/new_to_our_church_
Update your entries in our Directory in the back of the sanctuary or add your info if you want to be included. (You can also email our secretary or call and leave your info so we make sure it is accurate)
Pray for these ministries and plan to attend, help, and enjoy these opportunities!
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Good Morning Becomers! Think about how much you have to be thankful about today! You were one way and now a better way and working on becoming a much better way because of Jesus and all He did and is doing for you! PTL! PTL we have the opportunity to become all we were created to be and do all we were created to do and grow into our fullest potential until He calls us home. You are a disciple (learner) becoming an apostle (sent one). You have purpose and potential in Christ that fits like a glove because you were created to do them and have help to complete them. You have a purpose and potential. You have Love! Love lives in you and shows up all around you as you live and love like Jesus. And you become better at those as you practice doing them and at allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. You have Hope, can choose joy, are growing in faith and becoming! Everyday we have the opportunity to choose to become better at being God's ambassadors. Even in the hardest of times, we know who is holding us and helping us through. What are you thankful for today?
Yesterday was a unique day of worship, BUT GOD! We had a projector failure, heard about the Kindness Project which we will be supporting as our Christmas project (watch for more details of how we can bless them together. Here's a link to their website: https://mykindnessproject.org/) The need is great for Foster Family assistance. Pray for God to direct us in our giving. And we ended worship with a babbling pastor saying what the Holy Spirit revealed about BECOMING and our John 14 and 15 readings. (I really recall little of what I said) BUT the Holy Spirit showed up, led our time, answered your prayers and brought a new family to worship with us that want to join. He answered the prayer for God to speak through me too. (Even in chaos, God is at work and answers our prayers!) I am thankful for all your prayers and your faith that God IS working all things together for good. God is so good and worthy of praise and He is using us and has great plans for us! Amen and PTL!
You can engage with God through your quiet time and with open Bible and devotionals today on your own. Keep building those gratitude lists and keep worshiping and thanking our awesome Father! Let's close with some prayer starters from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend.
"Praise God for your sighing is not hidden from Him (Ps. 38:9). Give thanks that you can cast all your care on Him for He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). Confess to God the many times you worry, are fearful, or trust in something other than God (Ps. 37:5-6). Commit yourself to daily food from God's Word and time with Him in prayer. Ask God for victorious faith that overcomes the world (1 Jn. 5:4). Ask that your family will be reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness through your example of giving Him all the glory in every situation. Pray that your church will be living proof of the fact that God fulfills the desires of those who fear Him (Ps. 145:19). Pray that you will be a consistent example of God's love today and always--and thereby help to advance God's Kingdom on earth. In whatever difficult circumstances you find yourself, pray for God to use you as a springboard for salvation of an unbeliever." AMEN! Come Lord Jesus! be our Lord today and always and may we bring you great glory and honor by our choices! Thank You! Amen!
God really loves you and is waiting to sit with you, lead you, help you, and love on you and love through you. Be still and know that He is God and that you matter--to Him and us! Receive and walk in His love and shalom today! Oh what joy awaits us today! Rejoice!
Sunday, November 12 2023
This IS the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice, worship, and be glad in it! Let us enter His courts with praise, His presence with thanksgivings! Amen!
Good Morning Becoming Becomers! We will hear more about that today as we continue to work on becoming all that we were created to be and doing all we were created to do. We were one way and becoming another by God's grace and our all-in willingness! And we are becoming to God--attractive to Him as we work on becoming.
There is so much that God has put on my heart to share today. I will try to keep it brief. One thing I need from you is prayers for God to send and draw some people that told me Wed. that they would attend today. Pray that God's grace and drawing to new life would come alive today and for all hindrances from showing up be held at bay. May His irresistible grace move many to Him and lead them to join us today. Pray for Patrick, Amber, Ramone, Arianna, Mary, and two couples whose names I forget but God knows to show up and be drawn to Him and attracted by our love for God and them. Pray for me to be led by the Spirit and bring His Word alive. Thank you! I've already been praying for this day all week. Join me and God and release His salvation power and Holy Spirit!
Maybe God is working on you too? I know some of you have chosen words to work on this year and we are seeing great fruit from that. Maybe God is calling you to work on some spiritual growth in the year ahead or to pick a new word. Talk to God about that and pray for God to continue to change our lives as we commit to living and loving like Jesus and becoming all we can be in Christ. Ask God to pair you up with some to process, pray and be accountable too. Talk to me if you are being stirred to try out a small group. Check out Charles Stanley's devo below and pray about it. Think about our Vine and our Vinedresser. What may need some pruning? How can we help each other receive that pruning in faith and with joy? Have you ever asked to be pruned? I have many times and God is faithful to help us achieve His best and produce good fruit!
This Wednesday we wrap up the Chosen season 3. It's long and covers a lot of our reading through John and other things we studied. We may need to continue to discuss this episode for awhile after this week. Like our Bibles, it is so rich in teaching, pointing to Jesus and bringing Him and His ways alive. How desperate are you for a touch from Jesus? What is He teaching you? Who is He sending you to bless? How is He helping you right now through some hard thing or how has He helped you in the past? Who needs to help you or hear about that? God is with us and very active. Do you see and sense His presence, help, love? Be still and know! He has great plans for you and us! We are on our way to becoming a dynamic movement of God because He lives and loves in and through us! Rejoice! Share His Good News with much joy and thanksgiving and partner with Him to bring revival and new life--even today. Amen!
I included The Word for You Today at the bottom. It pertains to us and today's possibilities as we hear from The Kindness Project and how we can partner with them this Christmas season. Number three particularly applies to today and how God is already using us. Keep looking for someone to help! As you do, the other two will grow. We become healthier as we connect to and bless others. I am not a slave to fashion, obviously, and am not too keen on their dressing to impress others. I yams what I yams as Popeye says. BUT as we put on Love and share it we will not only look, but be our best. Others will see us dressed with Jesus and His Love, hope and help and take notice. Why waste money on fashion? Jesus didn't dress to impress. He lived to love and help. Dress in His love today and don't worry about how others see you but how God sees you. He looks at your heart, not what you wear. And that's how we should look at others too. Come as you are and be loved. Then we will be really healthy and feel good about ourselves. Don't cave to the pressures of the world or some legalistic, Pharisaical standard. Be who you were created to be and work on who you are becoming in Christ and stand firm in Love! Amen. Go love and make disciples as you were created and gifted and know Him more! That's true worship! (Rant over!)
Shalom. Shalom. True peace to you! See you soon!
Charles Stanley:
ODB:
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Dizziness struck me in the stairwell of the office building. Overwhelmed, I gripped the banister because the stairs seemed to spin. As my heart pounded and my legs buckled, I clung onto the banister, thankful for its strength. Medical tests showed I had anemia. Although its cause wasn’t serious and my condition was resolved, I’ll never forget how weak I felt that day.
That’s why I admire the woman who touched Jesus. She not only moved through the crowd in her weakened state, but she also showed faith in venturing out to approach Him (Matthew 9:20–22). She had good reason to be afraid: Jewish law defined her as unclean and by exposing others to her uncleanness, she could face serious consequences (Leviticus 15:25−27). But the thought If I only touch His cloak kept her going. The Greek word that’s translated as “touch” in Matthew 9:21 is not mere touching but has the stronger meaning of “to hold on to” or “to attach oneself.” The woman tightly held on to Jesus. She believed He could heal her.
Jesus saw, in the midst of a crowd, the desperate faith of one woman. When we too venture out in faith and cling to Christ in our need, He welcomes us and comes to our aid. We can tell Him our story without fear of rejection or punishment. Jesus tells us today, “Cling to Me.”
By Karen Huang
REFLECT & PRAY
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What’s caused you suffering and fear? To what or whom have you turned for help and healing? How can you cling to Jesus today?
Dear God, thank You for Your love. I don’t have to feel ashamed and afraid. You accept me and call me Your child.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The account of the woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years is told in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8). Matthew’s telling is the briefest of the three. Despite the differing details, one element shared by all three is the essence of Jesus’ parting words to the woman: “your faith has healed you” (Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48). It’s important to note that this faith wasn’t simply the belief that Christ could heal her (although that belief is also stated in all three gospels). Her faith caused her to act. It propelled her through the crowd to reach out and touch Jesus’ cloak. This is how James talks about faith. Faith is demonstrated by what it does, not what it claims to believe (see James 2:14–26).
J.R. Hudberg |
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TWFYT:
Saturday, November 11 2023
Thank you to all who have served and were willing to lay down their lives for our freedoms! May God bless you and your families abundantly for you heart and service!
NOTES for Sunday: 1. There is a sign up sheet for our brunch after worship on Nov 26th. Please RSVP.
2. Tomorrow is the last day to bring cans of beans for the angel network we are short about 50 cans yet.
3. Please check the directory at the rear of the sanctuary at the devo area and make sure your info is correct or add your info if you are not in the directory.
Thank you to all of you who encouraged, sent cards and blessed Karen and me during Pastor's Appreciation month! What an honor and blessing to serve with such a loving flock! May God bless you for your kindnesses! Thanks again!
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Good Morning Recruits, Volunteers, Servants, Warriors, Soldiers of the Cross and Veterans of many Spiritual Battles! Thank you for your service and willingness to lay down your lives for your brothers and sisters in Christ! You are valued and appreciated and God knows all you have offered of yourself for His glory. Thank You and remember, the battle is the Lord's and the battles will continue until that final one on the Day of the Lord. Cloak yourself in His armor and continue to battle and hold firm entrenched in Christ--our Victor and Commander-in Chief. Many around us are fighting battles we have no idea about. We are brothers and sisters in the battle and the battles belong to the Lord. May we stand firm and look for a comrade that needs some reinforcements. Meditate on this song as you battle in prayer today: Battle Belongs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=johgSkNj3-A Yes the battle is the Lords and He is our mighty fortress! Stand firm and keep battling on your knees.
Check out our devos below that speak into and thread through this today. And remember we are reading, meditating on and journaling through John 14 and 15 this week. What's God saying to you? What measurable thing will you do about it? In John 15 we are commanded to lay down our lives for one another and to love like Jesus loves us. That is agape, sacrificial love. Meditate on this passage as we think about all those warriors defending our freedoms and battling on their knees for the Kingdom. Are you all-in and pouring yourself out for God and His Kingdom? John 15:9-17
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Yes the battle is the Lord's but we all have a part to play in His army. And it all is ground in, birthed in, and carried out in agape love! And no matter our season in life or our circumstances we all have custom made assignments until we are called home in victory. Stand firm and battle on! Turn off the noise and tune out the chaos coming from the enemy all around us and stay focused on our Commander! Victory is coming and already won! Rejoice! Someday soon we will all be celebrating the victory dinner with our Savior! And remember until we are called home we have good fruit to bear as we fulfill our created purposes for such a time as this! God is for us! Who can be against us? It really doesn't matter, does it? We know and are in the Victor! Rejoice and continue your service unto Him! That is a sacrifice of praise He gladly accepts!
ODB:
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Too late, Tom felt the chilling “click” beneath his combat boots. Instinctively, he bounded away in an adrenaline-fueled leap. The deadly device hidden underground didn’t detonate. Later, the explosive ordnance disposal team unearthed eighty pounds of high explosives from the spot. Tom wore those boots until they fell apart. “My lucky boots,” he calls them.
Tom may have clung to those boots simply to commemorate his close call. But people are often tempted to consider objects “lucky” or to even give them the more spiritual label “blessed.” Danger arrives when we credit an object—even a symbol—as a source of God’s blessing.
The Israelites learned this the hard way. The Philistine army had just routed them in battle. As Israel reviewed the debacle, someone thought of taking the “ark of the Lord’s covenant” into a rematch (1 Samuel 4:3). That seemed like a good idea (vv. 6–9). After all, the ark of the covenant was a holy object.
But the Israelites had the wrong perspective. By itself, the ark couldn’t bring them anything. Putting their faith in an object instead of in the presence of the one true God, the Israelites suffered an even worse defeat, and the enemy captured the ark (vv. 10–11).
Mementos that remind us to pray or to thank God for His goodness are fine. But they’re never the source of blessing. That is God—and God alone.
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
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How do you show evidence of your faith in God? When you’re faced with a crisis, what do you focus on to help you?
Loving Father, forgive me when I’m tempted to put my faith in anything but You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
It’s not surprising the Philistines didn’t know much about God. But it is surprising that the Israelites also demonstrated little knowledge of Him (1 Samuel 4:1–11). The Philistines had heard of God’s greatness but misunderstood it. They recalled the plagues He used to free Israel from Egypt more than three hundred years earlier but remembered them as taking place in the wilderness, not in Egypt, and attributed God’s power to “mighty gods” (v. 8). Israel mistakenly thought the ark’s presence meant the presence of God Himself (v. 3). They were seeking military success instead of seeking the One who brings that success.
Tim Gustafson |
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UR: Sacrifice
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13 (NIV)
I was recently out of town with my family, and since it was Sunday, we visited a church in the area. Before the sermon began, there were a few moments of thanks for those who had served in our country’s armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifice — their lives.
I have seen many similar dedications, but that memorial struck me differently than any had before. Long after the service ended, the scripture at the end of the memorial video played in my mind: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This verse reminds us that Christ laid down his life to save all humanity from sin. Giving up one’s life is an extreme way to show love, but this verse made me wonder, What does sacrifice look like in daily life?
Many weeks after that worship service, I am still pondering that verse. Even if I am not laying down my physical life for my friends, I can go out of my way to show kindness not only to my loved ones but also to my neighbor across the street, the person at the grocery store, or an acquaintance I happen to see in town. Laying down one’s life, or simply laying down one’s busy schedule in order to show God’s love to others, is a habit worth embracing.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for giving us the example of ultimate sacrifice through Christ. Help us to sacrifice time throughout our day to share your love with others. Amen.TWFYT:
Friday, November 10 2023
YES! Thank God I'm Forgiven and so much more!!! How about you? What are you thankful for this Friday? Where are you seeing God at work and responding to His invite to join Him? Who needs to hear your story of God's faithfulness, forgiveness, love, healing, help, and constant presence and provision?
Good Morning Loving, Hospitable, Praying, CO-Laboring Worshipers! YES! That is you and our fellowship! That is How the people that gather at the building called St. Matthew's are being viewed and experienced. PTL! He is hearing and answering our prayers, changing and using us and His love is becoming experienced through us! PTL! And it all began when we were forgiven and stepped into our new nature in Christ and responded to His leading us to our purposes. Amen!
Did you catch the thread through our devotionals today describing you and us? Say that salutation out loud and pronounce it over yourself and our fellowship. I am/We are loving, hospitable, praying, co-laboring worshipers! Amen! And each of us has an age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, faith-level appropriate, gifted and created appropriate purpose in God's Good News Delivery Company called St. Matts. What's your purpose and response? Some of you are pray-ers, funders, workers, helpers, teachers, and story sharers among many roles and purposes that allow our company to run like a well-oiled machine. As we continue to discover, step into, grow into our purposes we glorify God and people experience His saving love, hope and help and His fame is spreading! PTL! God IS Love! And Love lives in us and grows as we learn to live and love like Jesus as we were created and gifted to do! PTL!
We have so much to be thankful for this Friday and everyday! Let us continue to celebrate and worship God for who He is and all He is doing in, through and around us and for our salvation, new life, and our St. Matts. Faithful servants! Rejoice! Thank you ALL for stepping into your roles and allowing God to use and grow you! He does have great plans that are coming alive and growing! PTL!
Maxie Dunnam said, "Praying for people will bring you to love them. Loving them will lead you to serve them. Serving them will be the open door through which God can move in to save, heal, and make whole." Man, are we seeing that truth come alive as we allow God to grow and use us! PTL and keep at it faithful, loving friends! I can't wait to see what God will do next! And I can't wait to celebrate as you share what God is doing in, through and around you! Amen!
ODB:
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For years, John had been somewhat of an irritant at church. He was bad-tempered, demanding, and often rude. He complained constantly about not being “served” well, and about volunteers and staff not doing their job. He was, honestly, hard to love.
So when I heard that he’d been diagnosed with cancer, I found it difficult to pray for him. Memories of his harsh words and unpleasant character filled my mind. But remembering Jesus’ call to love, I was drawn to say a simple prayer for John each day. A few days later, I found myself beginning to think a bit less often about his unlikeable qualities. He must be really hurting, I thought. Perhaps he’s feeling really lost now.
Prayer, I realize, opens ourselves, our feelings, and our relationships with others to God, allowing Him to enter and bring His perspective into it all. The act of submitting our will and feelings to Him in prayer allows the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, slowly but surely. No wonder Jesus’ call to love our enemies is bound up tightly with a call to prayer: “Pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).
I have to admit, I still struggle to think well of John. But with the Spirit’s help, I’m learning to see him through God’s eyes and heart—as a person to be forgiven and loved.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it important to pray for even the difficult people in your life? What can you pray for them?
Loving God, You know how I feel about those who’ve hurt or irritated me. Please give me Your heart of grace and compassion to pray for them, for You love them.
Learn how to deepen your prayer life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The challenging commands that Jesus gives in Luke 6:27–31 are clear: we’re to love, bless, and do good to others. By reading further, however, we see the rationale for these exhortations: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (vv. 35–36). When followers of Jesus “flip the script” on hate, abuse, and selfishness, they demonstrate their kinship to their heavenly Father whose care is shared without discrimination. Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:1–2 carry the same sentiment: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Hospitality
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2 (NRSVUE)
I grew up in a society where people are often skeptical about entertaining strangers. Often, strangers inspire feelings of suspicion and fear. But God wants us to be kind to strangers, regardless of the assumptions of others or the stories that make headlines.
Hospitality to strangers links us with God and with others. It is a wonderful way of expressing and extending the love of God to the world. Some strangers may not know about the love of God, and as Christians we should look beyond the four walls of our local church and denomination to welcome them. When we show hospitality to strangers in our neighborhoods and welcome those who visit our home or walk past our street, we have the opportunity to entertain angels.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Father, encourage us to offer hospitality to strangers whenever we can. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
TWFYT:
Friday, November 10 2023
Good Morning Celebrating, Worshiping Thanks-Givers! God is always good and worthy of all praise! Amen! We have so much to celebrate! PTL! I just want to share in some of the ways the Lord showed up yesterday as we gathered, served, fellowshipped, worshiped and prayed! The Lord is our Shepherd! he answers our prayers! he shows up and is always at work! he is using us as we serve and bless and drawing many to Him and some to us! We are trusting, following, pouring ourselves out as an offering and He is blessed and blessing us! He is our shalom and provision! Yes and so much more!
Yesterday God showed up BIG time at the donut and conversation day at the Bread Ministry! PTL! Honestly you have to come experience this for yourself! There are so many stories to share as God places each of us with those He is drawing and uses us to bless, help, counsel, pray and receive blessings back. PTL! Plan on showing up and experiencing what God wants to do through and in you Dec 6th at our next one. Several have indicated they want to come and experience worship with us Sunday! PTL pray for no hindrances and for God to stir many to join us. There were at least 6-8 people sharing that they want to and are planning to join us. Pray for Patrick, Ariana, Amber, Ramon, Mary, and two other couples whose names I forget for God to continue to work on their hearts and draw them to Him and us and to use us well! People are searching for the love, fellowship, relationships with god and each other that they are feeling through us! PTL and keep loving like Jesus well! We got to pray for a woman who is struggling through health issues that just came to share her struggle she couldn't eat donuts or bread. Pray for Isabelle to be healed and for God to be glorified. Praise God and pray for a woman we have been connecting and praying for. To see her you know she struggles with pain and reminds me of what the woman who gave the mite might look like--kinda hunched over but choosing joy. I don't know her name but she is so touched by what we do as a church that she gave us a hundred dollar donation to the general fund for us to use to keep blessing others. then there were all the conversations and excitement as people were feeling God's loving, drawing presence! PTL! Pray for God to continue His good works and for many to see and be drawn to Him! Thank you Father and all who show up! All God asks of you is to be you and love like Jesus as if He were you. he will send he right people to you, give you words and love through you AND we get to bless, be blessed, fellowship and eat donuts!
Then last night we had one of our largest gatherings for the Chosen/Family Ministries dinner and studies. Man did God show up again! It seems like our Fellowship hall and gatherings are anointed by God! PTL! I was very concerned as we haven't been getting as many people as usual due to outside circumstances, so, I just did leftovers. I was really worried we wouldn't have enough food, but like the feeding of the 5000 we asked God to bless and stretch what we had and he was faithful to allow us to have some leftovers for about two to four extra people. PTL! he is our provider and prayer answerer! Then we had two awesome study time! The Chosen was a powerful video of how Jesus changes people, blesses people, stretches people and ministers to our hearts, hurts, struggles and joys. At the same time Family Ministries had all kinds of good things going on and plans being made--even for our next brunch Sun. Nov 26th. (See flyer below and RSVP for another great day of food, fellowship and fun! And bring a friend!) Things actually ran late for both groups as people shared, encountered God and just enjoyed a fun evening. We have one more next Wednesday at 6 and then Thanksgiving Eve Eve meal and fellowship Tues Nov 21 at 6. Plan to join us!
Yes God is on the move and there are more stories and testimonies to share! PTL and plan to join us to get your own stories to share of how God is using and growing you! Let us continue to celebrate and share those God stories. let us commit to keep praying for BIG God things to happen and for Him to use us as He teaches us to come as we are and learn to live and love like Jesus as we grow into Hs greater things for us! I can't wait to see what's next!
Come sit at His feet and worship! Fill up and follow your Lord and Shepherd today as He leads us to his best and uses us for His glory! Worship with much thanksgiving! And be filled with much joy!
Shalom! Shalom!
Psalm 23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RzGnpvUFFw
Great Things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4CY3nf1Mvw
Wednesday, November 08 2023
Hey God wanted me to add one more thing: We recharge best and find joy and satisfaction in Christ when we see and celebrate God showing up all around us. Sunday we shared some of the places God showed up in our gatherings and personal lives and celebrated.
God showed up at our PRC meeting last night. PTL and thank you for your prayers! We celebrated and shared some of those times and places God has been showing up in Sarah and my lives and ministries and the ministries of the church.
God is with us and faithful and speaking all the time! PTL! Rest in Him and recharge as he shows up all around you and as we serve together! What do you have to celebrate? Who are you sharing that with and refreshing? Isn't our God so awesome!
Shalom and joy to you today!
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