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Saturday, February 10 2024
Good Morning Students of the Bible, Learning Pray-ers, Harvest Workers! Is that you? These are definitely some of our purposes here on earth as Kingdom ambassadors. Pronounce that and ask God to bring His Word alive to you, teach you to pray powerful and effective prayers and to use all of that and you, just as you are, to be His ambassador and harvest worker. That is what you are created, gifted, being trained, and empowered to do. Talk to God about that today as you turn off the noise and sit at His feet in preparation for the day. To know Christ and make Him known is the EC mission statement. As we grow in that we become a dynamic movement of God, a people with a burning passion for Him and missionary zeal to reach the lost (EC Vision statement). God custom made and gifted you for such a time as this to go, love and make disciples of Jesus. That starts as we study His Word, pray earnestly, and allow Him to use us. Nothing else really matters in this world except knowing Christ and living like and for Him! “The first purpose of prayer is to know God.” —Charles L. Allen and our purpose is to make Him known! (Pastor Don)
There is much that God is stirring in my head this morning. Let's see what He wants us to hear as I asked Him to type this...The past few days have been times of great fellowship, study of His Word, praying, and serving. Seriously consider joining our Tues Zoom Huddle and/or Wed night gathering. Maybe even join us next Wed for donuts and conversations at the Bread Ministry. God is speaking, teaching, directing and using us and has a space for you to join in, just as you are! Come and see!
Last night Karen's mom, Kay, shared how God spoke to her yesterday morning through Ps. 90:17, "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; [God has been leading me since the beginning of the year to pray and proclaim that this is the year of the Lord's favor. May it be so Lord and may Your favor rest upon us! Amen] establish the works of our hands--yes, establish the works of our hands." Amen, right! She shared how God answered that prayer and used her to minister to another yesterday. And that sharing ministered to and taught us last night as she shared with tears of joy for how much that meant to her. PTL! This morning as I prayed that verse, God put on my heart to pray for Him to establish the work of His hands through my hands. That I would be ready and willing for Him to do His will through me. That His favor would rest upon and go before me today. Now that was the beginning of my quiet time and led me all kinds of places with the Holy Spirit's help. Be still and know that He is God and He is speaking to you right now. Listen and receive and allow Him to inform your prayers and to direct your steps. Come be our Lord today, Jesus. May we walk in Your favor and be available and ready to allow you to love through us. Yes, establish the work of your hands through our hands today. Teach us to pray and bring Your Word alive in, through and around us today. Amen!
Our Daily Bread, below, reminds of the importance of humbling ourselves and turning off the noise and chaos around us as we seek God. We discussed last night the importance of humbling ourselves, dying to self. God despises pride. God is love. Satan is prideful and he stirs us to pride and away from God. Repent, die to self, take up your cross daily and be like and follow Jesus today. Prov. 3:5-6 keeps coming to mind, "Don't lean on your own understanding..." Open your Bible and fill your minds with Truth. Turn off the noise and chaos. Repent of pride and your own thinking and humble yourself before God. That is what matters and He has custom made great plans for you to pray in to, discover, and step into, even today.
We had a great teaching on the 23rd Psalm last night. We don't usually think of it as a wilderness Psalm since it begins with "I shall not want", or "I have all I need" depending on the translation you use. But it is a wilderness psalm. Many of us might be in our own wilderness right now--sickness, uncertainty, lack, confusion, fear. BUT GOD! Jesus is our Shepherd and we have all we need. Keep your focus on the Shepherd and praise God for what you do have. He's got you covered and does have great plans to establish you and the works of your hands, provide where He guides and bring His favor upon you today. So, choose joy and faith and rejoice! I heard someone say on the radio yesterday that joy seeps in through the cracks of our brokenness. How true. Joy and trust are good choices we can make regardless of our circumstances. BUT GOD! Pronounce that and choose joy as your Shepherd leads you to His best plans for you. Who do you know that may need to hear this today? What's God saying to you and what will you do about that? I'm praying for you, child of the Lord's love and favor!
Below are two Harvest Prayer blogs. Start with those as tools to learn how to pray in power and for the Lord's will to be done as He uses you. Sit as His feet and allow Him to direct your steps and empower the work of your hands today. And celebrate all He is doing and share that joy with others. He is a good, good Father and always with you! Amen! PTL!
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Amen and amen!
Harvest Prayer blogs:
February 8 - Satan Rejoices when Our Prayer Lives Suffer
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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Most of us can pray when we are in crisis or when we are desperate. But unfortunately, we often find it hard, awkward, or even impossible to pray when times are good. As a result, many believers do not have regular, effective prayer lives.
Some would say this is because more than anything else Satan hates to see people pray. He hates to see churches pray. Why? Because prayer, along with Bible reading, is the most crucial element of our walk with Jesus Christ. We learn about God by reading the Bible—His Word; we experience God through prayer. It is our lifeline, our method of communicating with Him. And prayer moves the hand of God—it releases His will in our lives, and on earth.
But we can’t give Satan all the credit for our anemic prayer lives. Much of our ineffectiveness, our inconsistency, is our own fault. We struggle in prayer for a variety of reasons. We were never really taught how to pray. Perhaps we prayed early in our relationship with God, but it seemed we hit a wall and saw fewer and fewer answers. Rather than figuring out what was wrong, we simply prayed less and less. Some of us had bad experiences. Well meaning, yet totally in error, friends told us we were doing something wrong. We weren’t “claiming” our answer. Or we were too bold—after all, God is sovereign; you can’t tell Him what to do. Perhaps the thing we desired and prayed fervently for never came to pass. So we quit praying, angry with God and disillusioned with prayer. [If you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios, ask God, as the early disciples did, to teach you how to pray from His perspective, and find fresh freedom in your prayer life].
Father, I pray for myself and for others who struggle with their prayer lives. Teach Your people to trust You even when Satan tries to discourage us and/or sidetrack our prayers! Give us strength to stand up to his attacks. Help me, Lord, to take a good look at the weaknesses in my prayer life! Help me to develop a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with You so that my prayer life will be strong, bold and focused on Your agenda!
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. T
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February 6 - Pray for Laborers for the Harvest
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Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37–38)
The greatest need in our community is not only for the lost to be saved, but for the saved to become harvesters. How does this happen? It all begins with prayer. Jesus taught his disciples, and therefore he is teaching us, to cry out to the Lord of the Harvest asking him to ignite in us the passion and give us the power we desperately need to reach and disciple the lost.
Lord of the harvest, I cry out to you today in joyful obedience to your Word. You are full of love for the lost. Give me your passionate desire and love to see the lost come to know Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. It gives me great faith to know that you want me to begin with you, as the source and power to bring people to salvation. I begin in prayer now, asking for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit to empower me to be an effective and loving evangelist in my family, workplace, neighborhood, and community. Make me a passionate harvester like the disciples were in the book of Acts. Do miracles, convict hearts, and empower believers to make much of Jesus today in my city. Make the name of Jesus first on every believer’s heart, and prepare the unbelievers to meet us today as we interact in life. Make reaching out to those without Christ my joy. Remove fear, frustration, and insecurity from my heart and mind. Overwhelm me with your love as I long to be a reconciler of the lost with you. Use me in a way that causes those in need of Christ to look to him as Savior and Lord. Jesus, convince me and fellow believers that this is the greatest work of the church—to seek and save the lost as you did when you walked the earth. Thank you for affirming that you are both for me and with me as I step out in faith today to be a harvester. I thank you in advance that you are making me a fruitful and faithful witness for Christ today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
--Adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer for A Transformed Community by Trey and Mary Anne Kent. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise the God who cares even for the birds (Mt. 6:25-34).
- Give thanks that you can depend upon him completely to meet every need.
- Confess anything in your life which is rooted in pride and self-reliance.
- Commit yourself to not worrying about your life or about tomorrow.
- Ask the Father to help you to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness . . .” (6:33).
- Ask that unsaved persons around you will realize the folly of building their lives on foundations of sand. Pray that they will build on the rock, Jesus Christ.
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ODB:
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Pride precedes and often leads to humiliation—something a man in Norway found out. Not even dressed in running clothes, the individual arrogantly challenged Karsten Warholm—the world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles—to a race. Warholm, training in an indoor public facility, obliged the challenger and left him in his dust. At the finish line, the two-time world champion smiled when the man insisted that he’d had a bad start and wanted to race again!
In Proverbs 29:23 we read, “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” God’s dealings with the proud is one of Solomon’s favorite themes in the book (11:2; 16:18; 18:12). The word pride or haughty in these verses means “swelling” or “puffed up”—taking credit for what rightfully belongs to God. When we’re filled with pride, we think more highly of ourselves than we should. Jesus once said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Both He and Solomon direct us to pursue humility and lowliness. This isn’t false modesty, but rightsizing oneself and acknowledging that all that we have comes from God. It’s being wise and not saying things arrogantly “in haste” (Proverbs 29:20).
Let’s ask God to give us the heart and wisdom to humble ourselves to honor Him and avoid humiliation.
By Marvin Williams
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you experienced humility that brought honor? How can you humble yourself before God?
Dear God, remind me that humility is the pathway to honor in Your sight.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs 29:18-27 comes from a five-chapter section that begins with 25:1. That introductory verse says, “These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah.” Who were “the men of Hezekiah”? They were likely his scribes, and these proverbs were collected by them more than two hundred years after the death of King Solomon. Hezekiah had a reputation as a good and God-fearing king, and he was keenly interested in seeing the wisdom of his ancestor preserved and promulgated.
Proverbs 29:18 may be the most well-known proverb from today’s reading. The word revelation is rendered as “vision,” “prophecy,” or “prophetic vision” in other translations. The Hebrew word is khazon, which means “a revelation, a message from God.”
Tim Gustafson |
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Wednesday, February 07 2024
Good Morning Praying Friends of God! I love this thought from Colleen Townsend Evans, "The right way to pray then, is any way that allows us to communicate with God. For prayer in not a ritual; it's the soul's inherent response to a relationship with a loving Father." We don't practice rituals to get close to God or earn His favor, we grow in relationship. Christianity differs from all other religions because they all seek to placate a deity or do things to earn His favor. Christianity is all about a relationship with our loving Father. He created us in love. He wants us to draw near in relationship. He sacrificed His Son so we can draw close and be with Him forever. He sent His Spirit to dwell in us so we can hear Him, understand His Word and learn to follow Him better. "Draw near to God" is a command. Be still and know (another command and promise). Sit at His feet a bit today. Listen. Share your heart. Respond as He leads and grow in that relationship. And then live each day in a constant state of prayer. Pray continually is another command. (Just don't close your eyes while driving!) How's your relationship with your loving Father in heaven--King of the universe? He is right with you with open arms, His heart to share, and He's singing over you, His masterpiece. He wants to talk to you, grow in relationship and lead you to His will, plans and best each step of each day! What love and joy we know and can share! Abide in Him today!
The Become More in '24 Challenge is all about growing your relationship with our loving Father. Seeking Him more. Becoming more like Him--more of You and less of me, Lord! It's all about learning to hear Him and follow better each day and each step of faith we take. It's about doing more of what you are created, gifted, empowered and led to do throughout each day. God has great plans that He created you and gifted you to do well that spring forth as you grow in relationship, grow in staying connected, and grow in obedience. That is the abundant life of joy we can know in Christ and God's best for us. We will continue to focus on that growth, that "more" in '24 and beyond. Maybe a word you might consider working on is "relationship", or "focus", "stillness", or maybe "trust". God has great plans for you awaiting your discovery and growing into. Seek first the Kingdom of God and a growing relationship and all these things will be added to you and you will know shalom and joy beyond measure.
Check out the devotionals below as they will stir some conversation and reasoning with our Abba. Are you listening, believing, and doing more of what He's revealing? Are you growing in relationship? I urge you to pray into and focus on becoming more in '24! That is God best for you and our fellowship! Come taste and see that the Lord is good! The Upper Room especially speaks into our spiritual and relationship growth. What's God saying to you? It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Keep fanning into flame that relationship and may you burn bright and be on fire for the Lord, igniting a wildfire of faith all around you! And may your prayer life be filled with prayers from the heart and in faith as we ignite revival! Amen
Charles Stanley
UR: Spiritual Growth
The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. - Leviticus 6:13 (NIV)
In my sister’s garden, spinach blossomed with irresistible green leaves and lush shoots. I wanted to replicate this sight at my house, so I picked some seedlings for my small garden. Weeks passed, but my spinach did not produce the same beauty. I studied my sister’s method, and I realized I had missed an important step. Every morning before going to work, she waters the garden with water from her small fishpond, providing the plants with daily nutrients, and making her garden green and lush.
The Holy Spirit taught me a great lesson from this observation. At that time, I had not applied the principle of daily nurture to my Christianity. I woke early to beat the traffic on my way to work. If I was running late, I would skip my morning devotion or say my prayers in a hurry. Some days got so busy that I had no time to return to my devotions. This inconsistent care for my faith was precarious.
Just like the daily addition of wood kept the fire on the altar burning in Leviticus 6:12-13, the daily care my sister gives her plants keeps her garden green. To get the same result in my spiritual life, I must pray and meditate on God’s word every day. Those who blossom spiritually do not get there by chance; they consistently work at it. This is the recipe for spiritual growth.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, forgive us when we are too busy to give attention to you. Help us to prioritize our spiritual growth by spending time with you each day. Amen.
ODB:
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When Wallace and Mary Brown moved to an impoverished part of Birmingham, England, to pastor a dying church, they didn’t know that a gang had made the grounds of their church and home its headquarters. The Browns had bricks thrown through their windows, their fences set on fire, and their children threatened. The abuse continued for months; the police were unable to stop it.
The book of Nehemiah recounts how the Israelites rebuilt Jerusalem’s broken walls. When locals set out to “stir up trouble,” threatening them with violence (Nehemiah 4:8), the Israelites “prayed to . . . God and posted a guard” (v. 9). Feeling God used this passage to direct them, the Browns, their children, and a few others walked around their church’s walls, praying that He would install angels as guards to protect them. The gang jeered, but the next day, only half of them showed up. The day after that, only five were there, and the day after, no one came. The Browns later heard the gang had given up terrorizing people.
This miraculous answer to prayer isn’t a formula for our own protection, but it’s a reminder that opposition to God’s work will come and must be fought with the weapon of prayer. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,” Nehemiah told the Israelites (v. 14). He can even set violent hearts free.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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What would you have done in the Browns’ situation? Who needs your prayers for deliverance today?
Awesome God, protect Your people by Your powerful angels, and set the hearts of Your enemies free.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah, served the important post of cupbearer for King Artaxerxes. When Nehemiah heard the discouraging news from his brother Hanani that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, he wept. Moreover, his people, the Jewish exiles who’d returned to Judah from Babylon, were in trouble (Nehemiah 1). The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness, inquired about it (2:1-2), and granted his servant Nehemiah leave of absence to help rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah united the returning exiles to rebuild the walls despite heavy opposition from opponents in nearby Samaria, Amnon, and Arabia. While some of the men worked to rebuild the walls, others stood guard (4:1-9, 15). The wall was completed in fifty-two days (6:15). Later, Nehemiah helped Ezra the priest and teacher to restore the morals of the people by obeying the law of the Lord (8:9-10). Nehemiah served as governor of Judah for twelve years.
Alyson Kieda |
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Wednesday, February 07 2024
Good Morning Seeking, Becoming, Doing, Loving more Earnestly, like Jesus, Followers of the Way! Contemplate that as we have been jumping into the becoming more like Jesus challenge for over a month. Are you part of this? Have you prayed about and shared the word(s) God has given you to work on? Are you committed to living more earnestly as if Christ is all that matters in this life? Try it! You'll like it! Come and see and experience that true life in Christ is all that really matters in this life. Turn off that noise in your head and all around you and start choosing the abundant life!
Since discipleship is defined as the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were you and we are working on becoming more like Jesus, what are you experiencing? How is the Holy Spirit directing your steps? What is God saying to you? Who are you processing that with? He loves you, custom made you to become more like Jesus and love like Him and then gave you His Spirit to help you make all that happen. PTL, right? Can you honestly say, "I am who I am because I am allowing I AM to be who He is in and through me."? Seriously, that is what this life is all about. Who cares who is president, what some media personality is doing or wants you to do, or what is the latest must have thing or what chaos stirring news is being spewed about? In this life Christ IS all that matters along with our becoming more like Him. We are working on that. I'd really like to hear the word(s) God has you working on so I can pray and encourage and walk with you towards it. Please share your words with Sarah or me. How about right now!
God was speaking to my heart through our devotionals for today (below). I'll let you to sit at His feet, listen and process as you engage Him through your time with them. Rom 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." and the corresponding 1 Thes. 5 verses are threaded throughout today's readings. Think God is saying something to us? As I was ready to work on this, the Harvest Prayer blog popped up in my email. Below is Kim Butts Blog. She sums up much of what I've been hearing from God and trying to share with you so much better than me. Check this out and allow it to inform your prayers and choices today. We are created, gifted and led to be Jesus to others just as we are. And as we do, God will grow us into our fuller potential and His greater things. We are on an awesome journey that requires dying to self and earnestly seeking Him more. Come! Let us do this together for God's glory and truly enjoy the abundant life together. Amen! Living for Jesus, a life that is true! (maybe we should sing that hymn?) I know no other master than Jesus Christ my Lord...is that you prayerful song today? Sing it loud to our Father as your commitment to live for Jesus today and become more like Him in '24!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De-9PgDs3vABecoming a Living Reminder
“To walk in the presence of the Lord means to move forward in life in such a way that all our desires, thoughts, and actions are constantly guided by him. When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of him. This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence… When we no longer walk in the presence of the Lord, we cannot be living reminders of his divine presence in our lives.” – Henri Nouwen, The Living Reminder
These powerful words describe what the journey of prayer as every day life should be like. Everything is created by, informed by and shaped by the presence of God as “in Him we live, move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). As we walk through each day, He is present in every activity, every thought, and every moment of rest. God’s heart beats within our own and His kingdom purposes are yearning for our attention during the moments when we are forgetful of His continual companionship.
My deepest desire is to integrate the presence of Christ in me throughout my day. I desire that my first and last thoughts each day as well as everything in between would turn to the very present God…our Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There). I was grateful to my pastor this week for preaching on this amazing Name of God. He reminded us that God knows our actions: “you know when I sit and when I rise” (Psalm 139:2), He knows our thoughts: “…you perceive my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2), and He knows our ways: “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3). He knew all of these things before we were even born: “For you created my inmost being and you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). How is it that this amazing God slips our minds – ever?
Yet, even though God’s word says that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), we spend much of our lives doing and thinking and making decisions and plans completely independently of our Father, the One who knows us perfectly – inside and out.
Perhaps all it will take is to develop some godly strategies for remembering and recognizing His presence in our world and in the continual going about our day living. Is it even possible to cultivate never ending prayerfulness? Yes! God created us for this possibility to become reality. His word declares that we are to “pray continually” no matter where we are or what we are experiencing. If we are to be “living reminders” to everyone we connect with day to day, Jesus must ooze from our pores simply because we live, move and have our being in His presence. Here are a few simple strategies to help us live prayerfully in God’s presence:
Cultivate thankfulness for all things created, and for your daily experiences simply by becoming more aware. Develop a heart of gratitude even for things you normally take for granted. If you see loveliness around you, express your thanks to the Father. If you think of a good idea, give God praise for shaping your mind. Perhaps you have an opportunity to speak life or peace or hope into another person. Give the Lord thanks for opening the way for the conversation to take place.
If you or someone you connect with has a need, or if you simply see a need around you, take time to pray in that moment for God to intervene in a life or situation. Remember to be willing for the Holy Spirit to prompt you to meet the very need you just prayed about.
Take time each day to sit in silence. If you could spend ten minutes a day in silence, simply telling God that you want to spend time with Him, enjoying Him, you will begin to experience the truth of Matthew 6:33: “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”
You will likely be able to think of many other ways to cultivate a prayerful “knowing” that God is continually present with you. As we foster our awareness of Jehovah Shammah through all of our senses and experiences, over time we will begin to encounter a deeper sense of joy and security no matter what comes our way. And, we will become living reminders of the presence of Jesus to all who come into contact with us. May living prayerfully in His presence become a continual reality for our every day lives!
ODB:
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Born on a farm, Judson Van DeVenter learned to paint, studied art, and became an art teacher. God, however, had a different plan for him. Friends valued his work in church and urged him to go into evangelism. Judson felt God calling him too, but it was hard for him to give up his love for teaching art. He wrestled with God, but “at last,” he wrote, “the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all.”
We can’t imagine Abraham’s heartbreak when God called him to surrender his son Isaac. In the wake of God’s command to “sacrifice him there as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:2), we ask ourselves what precious thing God is calling us to sacrifice. We know that He ultimately spared Isaac (v. 12), and yet the point is made: Abraham was willing to surrender what was most precious to him. He trusted God to provide in the midst of a most difficult calling.
We say we love God, but are we willing to sacrifice what’s dearest to us? Judson Van DeVenter followed God’s call into evangelism and later penned the beloved hymn “I Surrender All.” In time, God called Judson back into teaching. One of his students was a young man named Billy Graham.
God’s plan for our lives has purposes we can’t imagine. He longs for us to be willing to surrender what is dearest. It seems that’s the least we can do. After all, He sacrificed for us His only begotten Son.
By Kenneth Petersen
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What’s God’s calling for you? What might you need to sacrifice for Him?
Dear God, I struggle to fully surrender parts of my life to You. Please help me to trust You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The “gospel echoes” in Genesis 22 are noteworthy. Abraham took his beloved and only son to sacrifice him on a mountain (v. 2). While Isaac was spared (vv. 8, 13-14), God’s own Son was the Lamb slain for the sins of the world (John 1:29; 3:16). Paul wrote in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” God the Father gave; Jesus the Son gave; believers in Jesus follow their example of surrender.
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Sticky Note Prayers
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. - Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
After my husband and I married, we had conflicting schedules. I was working on my bachelor’s degree, and he often worked evening shifts as a meteorologist. I came home one afternoon to find a note taped to the fireplace. We began communicating via these short notes when our schedules didn’t line up. We stuck them on the bathroom mirror, the door to the garage, in the kitchen, and in other places where they were sure to attract attention. My son didn’t understand our history with the notes and disliked them, but my husband and I knew they were love notes with the intent of maintaining communication.
Like those notes, our prayers don’t have to be long-winded. Short prayers throughout the day strengthen our relationship with God. The apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, [and] give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NRSVUE). This means not just praising God for the things we are happy about, but also for things that might not give us joy. Rejoicing, praising, praying, and thanking God are all ways we can include God in our day, and I believe it is a wonderful way to honor God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for hearing even our shortest prayers. Help us remember that nothing is too trivial to pray about. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, February 07 2024
Thanks for praying and being part of God's work through our Good News Delivery Co. called St. Matthews! God is hearing and answering! PTL! Your pastor and his mom are ok. PTL. Others are being healed and blessed as well! And we had a great but semi delayed congregational meeting.
The column for the 2024 budget failed to print unnoticed until the meeting. New copies have been distributed and are available. We will we convene before the brunch Feb. 25th as a congregation to vote on the budget. Yesterday all other business was approved, including retaining our same leadership teams. Thank you.
Don't forget Zoom Huddle at 10 tomorrow. All welcome as we continue to discuss healing.
Good Morning Hearers and Doers of God's Word! He is always speaking and near to you. He's even singing over you, believe it or not. He really loves you, wants to hang out, grow in relationship and even just chat. Sometimes we struggle to recognize that God is near or speaking, but that doesn't change the fact that He is. PTL! Sometimes our unbelief or sin hamper our hearing or His responding as well. Repent and hear and believe the Good News that you are very loved, forgiven and that God is answering your prayers and providing for your needs all the time. Be still and know! Turn off the noise. Listen to that still small voice and follow well today! Check out the Harvest prayer blog on how to prepare, pray and release God's will for this nation and revival below. That all begins with us--God's chosen people!
God had led me to pray today, as in many days, to "Speak, your servant is listening." Funny thing, well, God thing, I opened my Charles Stanley devo first with the title "God Speaks"! He sure does! All the time! You can hear Him too and know that He hears and is answering. We usually need to process what we are hearing with others to be sure exactly what we are hearing and what to do or even to be sure God is speaking. Pray for God to raise up some friends for you to process well with. This is a desire of God and my heart that this year we all find some small groups of friends to pray and process with and be accountable to. Let us know who you are partnering with so we can pray for you and so Sarah and I can help you get started.
As God speaks, we are able to discern His plans for us and even how to pray. God is at work all the time and with us even in the darkest valleys. Check out the Upper Room below. Who is someone He may want you to be His vessel to walk with as well? Who might know you well enough to know that you need someone to walk with? We need each other to do this life in Christ well. God just won't let me let go of that this year. For good spiritual, physical and mental health we need to be able to be open and honest with some close and trusted people. This also helps to lead to producing good fruit. Who are your partners in Christ? And that may be someone God hasn't sent yet, but needs you and you they. Check out Our Daily Bread below with how to love each other, receive new friends and walk in love together. We all need love and compassion, tough love sometimes too, and much grace like we've been given. Look at Jesus and the 12 for how to do this. He wants us to grow into His likeness and walking in His best ways. He's sending you to someone and someone to you to help. And don't forget the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Helper. He's there speaking and guiding as well. Listen! Follow well and with some others. That is God's best!
I'm praying for you all today and for God to be our Lord and Shepherd this week. He has great plans for you and us. Choose joy, hope, and His loving, best ways! And then celebrate and share all that God is doing as He continues to write your story and our story. Amen!
Harvest Prayer Blog:
February 5 - Only God Can Save a Nation
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We all know the verse: “If my people who are called by my name…” from 2 Chronicles 7:14. The words are so common they have almost become a cliché. We have said the verse enough and heard it enough, yet we often look at our country and wonder if our prayers are having any visible effect.
Thankfully, history assures us that this verse is true, and that the powerful Word of God is never simply a cliché. When a nation comes together to pray, fast, and seek the will of God, things do happen.
Currently the stresses and woes of our nation today are comparable to critical times in our nation in the past. Yet at times it seems the Church is unaware of the urgency of the day. We can seem paralyzed in prayer, unsure that God’s Word still applies to our hopeless situations. Could we cry out to Almighty God that He would accomplish His divine purposes in and through our nation? If we are to be saved, only God can do it.
“…if my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Today, please pray for our government: For righteousness, laws based on God’s moral law, and for justice. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people (Proverbs 14:3-4). See also: Psalm 34:15; Psalm 89:14.
Father, You are Lord over our nation. We trust in You and You alone! We ask that all of our leaders will give their hearts to You fully and completely. May they govern with integrity that is based upon Your righteousness. May laws be based upon Your law and not upon popular opinion. May “liberty and justice for all” truly become the reality in our nation!
--Adapted from Show Me the Proof by David Kubal, an article in the Premiere Issue of Prayer Connect Magazine.
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- Praise God as the giver of every good and perfect gift (Jas. 1:5, 17).
- Give thanks for the indescribable gift of his only Son.
- Confess any times when you have taken God’s gifts to you for granted.
- Commit yourself to searching Scripture for more knowledge of the “riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Eph. 1:7-8).
- Ask that your heart’s thirst be quenched and your soul’s hunger be satisfied in God as with the richest of foods (Psalm 63).
- Pray that your congregation may have faith that “you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Cor. 9:11).
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Charles Stanley:
UR: New Life
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
At 11:30 a.m. on December 28, 2021, I suddenly started sweating, and I knew that I needed to go to the hospital. My family members called my eldest son who was on duty at the hospital to come pick me up. At that time, hospitals were crowded, and it was difficult to see doctors there; but I met with a very capable doctor who diagnosed me with two blockages in my heart. We made an immediate decision to perform an angioplasty and open the blockages with two stents.
The surgery was successful. I was kept in the ICU for one day and in a special observation room for another. On the evening of the third day, I returned home completely recovered. I am convinced that the living God gave me a new life.
The life I am leading today is a living witness to the words of the psalmist, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Through my experience that day, I have seen the full promise of the Lord who stayed with me all the time and walked with me through the valley. I thank the Lord for giving me new life.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Merciful God, increase our faith. Help us to believe that you are ready to take care of us and help us when we pray to you. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.ODB:
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Maggie’s young friend showed up in church shockingly dressed. No one should have been surprised though; she was a prostitute. Maggie’s visitor shifted uneasily in her seat, alternately tugging at her much-too-short skirt and folding her arms self-consciously around herself.
“Oh, are you cold?” Maggie asked, deftly diverting attention away from how she was dressed. “Here! Take my shawl.”
Maggie introduced dozens of people to Jesus simply by inviting them to come to church and helping them feel comfortable. The gospel had a way of shining through her winsome methods. She treated everyone with dignity.
When religious leaders dragged a woman before Jesus with the harsh (and accurate) charge of adultery, Christ kept the attention off her until He sent her accusers away. Once they were gone, He could have scolded her. Instead, He asked two simple questions: “Where are they?” and “Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10). The answer to the latter question, of course, was no. So Jesus gave her the gospel in one brief statement: “Then neither do I condemn you.” And then the invitation: “Go now and leave your life of sin” (v. 11).
Never underestimate the power of genuine love for people—the kind of love that refuses to condemn, even as it extends dignity and forgiveness to everyone.
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
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How will you react when you see someone who’s living a hard lifestyle? Who can you invite to church this week and how might you get them to come?
Gracious God, please forgive me for having a judgmental spirit, and help me to show others Your love and grace.
Learn more about the importance of extending forgiveness.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In the passage about Jesus and the woman caught in adultery in John 8:2-11, the religious leaders were trying to entrap Him on the horns of a dilemma (a situation where you have two choices, but both are wrong). If He excuses the woman’s sin, He’d be seen as denying Moses’ law and would be exposed as a false teacher. But if He said to stone her to death, He’d be defying Roman law—for only Rome could enact capital punishment. Instead, He chooses a third option—making the religious leaders the subject of examination instead of the woman and offering her compassion.
Bill Crowder |
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Wednesday, February 07 2024
Joy Toy News and Harvest Prayer blog below
Good Morning Praising and Praying Priests of the Lord! We are all priests unto the Lord. We don't need a mediator to carry our praises and prayers to God. We don't have to sacrifice animals to be heard although we are to offer a sacrifice of praise. God is always near and knows our hearts and our prayers before we ask. But He wants us to ask and wants us to spend time with Him. So much so that He made a way through His Son. PTL! And we are never too sinful to be forgiven and redeemed! (Think of the thief on the cross who joined Jesus in Paradise that evening). Check out our devos below and spend some time with our Loving Abba and Savior as you prepare for worship and our congregational meeting today. (pray for your pastor as he has been up since 1 with stomach issues. Thanks). Count your many blessings and go share the love of God with others. That's true worship!
Harvest Prayer blog:
February 4 - Your Values Determine Your Praying
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Everything you do is based on value. If you think exercise or reading or entertainment will bring meaning to your life, you will spend huge amounts of time there. If you think those things are worthless, you’ll give your attention to something else.
The Bible speaks of prayer over 650 times with 450 recorded answers to prayer. It is one of the most repeated commands—by directive and example—in the Scripture. It is not peripheral, but foundational in our walk with Christ. And yet, most people would be honest to admit that their prayer life is weak at best. Most say they pray, but their prayers are often only in times of crisis or a fleeting prayer during the day. They nod with their heads at its value but are seldom on their knees.
Why do we have such a struggle with prayer? Sadly, many of God’s own people don’t really believe it’s valuable.
Worthy Father, You have created us for Yourself and You have created prayer as Your way of accomplishing Your will on this earth through Your people! Thank You for this amazing privilege to connect with Your heart. I am in awe that You desire to use me for Your purposes. Help me to seek after Your will as I pray by listening well and by searching Your word. Forgive me for my prayerlessness and strengthen my desire to grow into a deeper intimacy with You.
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Give glory to God as the Lord of peace.
- Thank Jesus that he himself is our peace, breaking down the barriers and the dividing walls of hostility (Eph. 2:14).
- Confess any areas where you are not at peace with another believer or group of Christians.
- Commit yourself to making every effort to live in peace with all people (Heb. 12:14).
- Ask God to help you bear with others and forgive whatever grievance you have against them, forgiving them as the Lord forgave you (Col. 3:13).
- Pray that the church may “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), realizing that as members of one body we are called to peace.
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ODB:
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After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Christina Costa noticed how much of the talk around facing cancer is dominated by the language of fighting. She found that this metaphor quickly started to feel exhausting. She “didn’t want to spend over a year at war with [her] own body.” Instead, what she found most helpful were daily practices of gratitude—for the team of professionals caring for her and for the ways her brain and body were showing healing. She experienced firsthand that no matter how difficult the struggle, practices of gratitude can help us resist depression and “wire our brains to help us build resilience.”
Costa’s powerful story reminded me that practicing gratitude isn’t just something believers do out of duty. Although it’s true that God deserves our gratitude, it’s also profoundly good for us. When we lift up our hearts to say, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2), we’re reminded of the countless ways God’s at work—assuring us of forgiveness, working healing in our bodies and hearts, letting us experience “love and compassion” and countless “good things” in His creation (vv. 3–5).
While not all suffering will find complete healing in this lifetime, our hearts can always be renewed by gratitude, for God’s love is with us “from everlasting to everlasting” (v. 17).
By Monica La Rose
REFLECT & PRAY
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How have you experienced healing through gratitude? What are you grateful for today?
Dear God, thank You for always giving me reasons for gratitude and hope.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Psalms, perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, are filled with praise and gratitude to God. The psalmists David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and other unnamed writers all praise Him for His attributes and wondrous deeds. Psalm 103 is such a psalm. David had many reasons to praise God who’d “been good to [him]” (13:6): God chose David, a lowly shepherd, to be king. He forgave his grievous sins (see 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 32, 51) and gave him victory over his enemies (18:3). The psalmist sang God’s praises because of His righteousness and love (7:17; 31:21), counsel and instruction (16:7). God, his strength and fortress (59:17), lifted him “out of the slimy pit” and “put a new song in [his] mouth” (40:2-3). God, the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” deserves our praise (2 Corinthians 1:3).
Alyson Kieda |
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UR: Pass It On
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” - Mark 12:43 (NIV)
Several years ago, while we were acclimating to a new church, a kind member began the habit of passing a copy of The Upper Room to our family. At the time, our children were in elementary and junior high school, and our lives seemed very full. We wondered how we would find the time each day to gather the family together to accomplish yet one more task. We began to set aside a few minutes each morning after breakfast before our day got too busy and our children headed off to school. Before long, we had gotten into a wonderful routine! Occasionally, something would interfere with it, and the morning devotional would be overlooked. It didn’t take us long to make a connection that the days begun with devotionals went more smoothly than the ones without.
Decades later we are still beginning our days with The Upper Room at breakfast, and we have started the tradition of “passing on” the devotional to friends and family members, just as our friend had done for us. Over the years, our lives have been enriched by the messages of spirit-filled Christians from all over the globe. It all began with a humble act of sharing Christ’s love.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Help us, Lord, to pass on to others the generous gifts of love you have given to us. Amen.
Joe Toy:
Saturday, February 03 2024
Rise and shine and give God all the glory, honor and praise! What a beautiful day lies ahead and He has some great plans for you to discover and step into! PTL!
God Morning Restored, Refreshed, and Ready Servants of the Most Hight God! Winter is waning and Spring is coming. God has allowed us a season to refresh and He is restoring all the enemy has stolen from us. We are readying for what's next. The sap of new life is flowing through us. New buds are beginning to sprout. Oh what a glorious time to be part of God's family! Rejoice!
When I worked as a gardener, my one customer insisted that I had to prune his Crape Myrtle's right after the first frost. Every plant has their season when pruning is best done. I feel like we have been pruned at just the right time. We are abiding in the Vine and receiving His nourishing life giving sap as we are being readied and restored to burst forth and beautiful color and vibrancy. Spring is coming and the buds are readying for some great fruit ahead. Can you sense it? It's coming! As we abide and endure through this season of preparation, be assured that as we persevere and endure earnestly in Christ we have some greater things coming! PTL! Keep seeking, knocking, praying for restoration and new fruit and keep offering yourself for God to use as you fulfill your part in His Body well.
Check out our devos below and spend some time with our Vine and THE Potter. Remember how we are gifted to go love like Jesus and how He loved sacrificially and lavishly and calls us to the same. Even in the book of Acts, we see how His disciples led the early church to sow lavishly in love of God and for others. Ask God to give you His giving, blessing heart and His mind to steward well all His blessings and to sow into His plans with your time, talent, treasure and gifts. And always remember that God knows what we need before we ask, BUT He wants us to ask. We can grow in Christ and service and produce very good fruit as we seek God and His Kingdom with all our heart, trust Him to provide where He guides and to allow us to grow in relationship with Him and each other and even those He is drawing as we labor together for His glory and worship with all our being! He is Jireh--enough! He is our provision and guide. He is our God Almighty who created and gifted you to go and do His will for such a time as this! PTL! Allow Him to restore, refresh, ready and then use you as you step out boldly in faith to go love like Jesus and change the world! Amen!
I can't wait to hear the stories as we work on our words and seek to Become More in '24! More like Jesus and doing more of what we are created and gifted to do! This is the year of the Lord's favor and the year of restoration and new life! Proclaim it! Live it!
Upper Room: Restored
But now, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter. All of us are the work of your hand. - Isaiah 64:8 (CEB)
Some time ago, I experienced several life changes. I resigned from my job to move several times because of my husband’s work. During one of those moves, I was led by God to be baptized. Six months after I was baptized, my husband and I went through a hard time; my marriage was in crisis. He talked about a separation and later asked that I leave the house. At the same time this was happening, my grandmother, who had been like a mother to me during my youth, died. Two months later, my father died.
Unable to understand what was happening, I was filled with incredible suffering and my heart was broken. I fell to my knees and asked God, “Why did you take everything?” I entered a prolonged season of prayer and fasting. With anguished
urgency I began to read the Bible, and the Holy Spirit led me to this passage: “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me” (Ps. 56:8-9, NIV). An inexplicable peace washed over me. My life, the vessel that was broken into pieces, could be made new again. God was at work sustaining, molding, and refining the fragments of my heart. This process not only restored my life but my marriage as well and filled me with God’s peace.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, grant us the wisdom to trust you to mold and remake us according to your will. Amen.Our Daily Bread:
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On her wedding day, Gwendolyn Stulgis wore the wedding dress of her dreams. Then she gave it away—to a stranger. Stulgis believed a dress deserved more than sitting in a closet collecting dust. Other brides agreed. Now scores of women have bonded on her social media site to donate and receive wedding dresses. As one giver said, “I hope this dress gets passed from bride to bride to bride, and it just gets worn out and is in tatters at the end of its life because of all the celebrating that’s done in it.”
The spirit of giving can feel like a celebration, indeed. As it is written, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24–25).
The apostle Paul taught this principle in the New Testament. As he said his goodbyes to the believers in Ephesus, he gave them a blessing (Acts 20:32) and reminded them of the importance of generosity. Paul pointed to his own work ethic as an example for them to follow. “In everything I did,” he said, “I showed you that by . . . hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ” (v. 35).
Being generous reflects God. “For God so loved the world that He gave . . .” (John 3:16). Let’s follow His glorious example as He guides us.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What good gift have you given recently? How did your gift help someone?
Dear Father, please open my hands to give to others with Your love in my heart.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs 11:24-25 provides winsome images that illustrate principles of generosity and stinginess. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (esv). Contrary to human reasoning and self-preservation, giving can result in gain and emptying to fullness. Closed hands, clenched fists, and hoarding are inconsistent with the gospel and the teaching and example of Jesus (see Luke 6:38). In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul summed up the generosity of Christ: “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Arthur Jackson |
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TWFYT:
C.S.
Saturday, February 03 2024
Reminders: Sunday is our Annual Congregational Meeting after worship and on Zoom. You must be present and a member in good standing to vote
Sunday we are also collecting for Everlasting Life Ministries
Tomorrow is Clothing Closet from 10-1. PTL for this growing ministry and for the volunteers! They are expanding to use the whole 2nd floor.
Prayer Request: Melissa is asking for prayers for mom, Darlene Skinner who has been under the weather and was taken to ER last evening for evaluation. We will update when we know more
Good Morning Gathered, Unified, Co-Laborers! We don't go to church. We are the Church, a community of believers, gathered by God to go love and make disciple makers as we step into our fullness in Christ and do what we were created to do for God's glory. We are family, His Body, co-laborers, friends of God and sinners and we are sinners that are forgiven much, cleansed and purified and readying to roll with God. PTL and count you your blessings! Check out the Harvest Prayer blog below about community. This is "Thank God I'm Forgiven" Friday! We are so thankful for that! Mine that to the depths and build those gratitude lists. Thank God for creating you for such a time as this, growing you and placing you in your community and our fellowship. He has great plans for you and for us to discover, grow into and to allow Him to use us to grow our community and His Kingdom. Rejoice!
We are a community of believers gathered in a building at 5th and Ridge. We chose to stay there after the building was almost leveled. Why? I don't know because I wasn't gathered here yet. My assumption is that you sought God and discerned that He wanted you to stay there for a purpose. I hope it wasn't because you followed you own instincts without seeking God. Assessing our connection to neighbors today, somewhere along the way we lost touch with them. Why? Well it doesn't really matter but we have no one within blocks of the church that attend our Sunday gatherings. Have we become irrelevant to the community we have been placed in? Or is it a society thing that has resulted from God's people failing to engage with and serve and love their neighbors? Maybe both. Our neighborhoods are filled with fourth, fifth and sixth generations that never went to church or only did so because a parent made them go get that "God thing" done. Yes the days of everyone going to church on a Sunday have come and gone and the lure of the world and the failure of God's people to be the church is what we are experiencing today. BUT GOD! He is not surprised nor caught off guard by this. It has been the way of His chosen ones since the beginning. Cold and hot and mostly somewhere in between that Jesus said He wants to spit those lukewarm ones out of His mouth.
BUT God! His plans never fail! He is always with us even when we are not close to Him. He promises that times will get increasingly dark as the lure of the world and ungodliness trap many and lore many away from Him. And He also consistently has had a faithful remnant that prayed, followed and reached others to come back to God and His ways that lit many revival fires. We are that remnant--faithful, earnest, followers of Jesus placed here by God for such a time as this. Strap on God's armor. Turn off the noise. Focus on Him and not our own understanding and allow Him to use us as catalysts for His promised end times revival! We are created, gifted and placed here for such a time as this!
Last evening our Vision Team (members from all our leadership teams) gathered to process and discuss an opportunity. As expected with gathered different members of the Body there was not consensus and we needed to process together to seek God, stay on the same page and make His plans. Most of our leadership team members have completed the spiritual gifts survey and as expected, we are all different and have different mixes of gifts. We approach ministry and following God, even discerning what He's revealing differently. We always--ALWAYS-- need to pause when there is not agreement and allow all to have a voice and process as they were created and gifted before we decide the next steps. That's how we stay healthy and how we are able to discern if God is saying, yes, no or wait. Some are inclined to see something as an opportunity and others as a threat and we always want to work towards following God together and He is the God of shalom and unity not chaos and disunity. We will always work to follow peace and help each other to move or wait as God is leading. We are family and God's Body and better together! Thank God for that and for the leaders He has raised up for our Body. We are much different than the ways of dissension, bickering and selfishness that we are witnessing daily in our government, media and communities, Thank God! Keep praying for us all to seek and follow Him well together and to keep growing into the greater things He has for us, sowing lavishly and following His provisions well. I think we are all maturing and growing as disciples and followers of Jesus. Let us seek to Become More in '24 together! We are not of this world! Let us show how true that is by our love, actions and obedience to follow God to His best earnestly. Amen! The old has gone and the new has come! Let us step into it together with wisdom, boldness and joy!
I am so blessed to be called to this Body and honored to serve beside you! You are a blessing and we are beginning to make a difference all around us. People are noticing and being drawn to our fellowship and God and His ways. PTL! Keep at it! Prepare yourselves for our Sunday meeting to seek and follow God as we discuss and vote. And here's your assignment: find a connection point to people that you are around a lot and ask God how we can serve and connect to them. Ask God to reveal new connection points to people He is drawing, for harvest workers and for the coming harvest. We have begun connecting to Bread Ministry people and race people. Some of them our joining our church and already serving. PTL! What are some other connection points we can pour into? God has plans and is drawing people and using us. PTL! Keep praying, seeking, knocking and willingly allowing God to send you. Amen! And don't forget to share what you are hearing, sensing, or any questions with your elected leadership. We need to process together and move together in love and unity always. That is the way of Jesus. And we are working on becoming more like Him together! Amen
Harvest Prayer:
February 2 - Be Thankful for Your Community
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You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)
Why are you in your city, town, or neighborhood? Were you placed there from birth? Did you come for work? You may have ended up there out of desperation or felt drawn to the place. This may be a place of joy and anticipation, or you might struggle with boredom from the monotony of being in the same place every day, year after year. What do you love about your community? Take a moment now to thank Jesus for as many gifts as you can appreciate in your place of residence.
Powerful and wonderful Creator, before the foundation of the earth, you knew and even planned my community. I thank you for the obvious beauty of this place. I even thank you for the obstacles that remind us of our need for you. Thank you for your character that is shown in this city. I’m grateful to be called to live in this community and I’m honored to be empowered by your Holy Spirit to pray as you lead. As I view this place, I see the glory you could reveal in this city and the revival you will bring forth. I ask you to open hearts to the possibility of the transformation you desire in us all and to empower us to believe, pray and work for the glory of your name. Let the gifts you have given our community grow and be used for the healing of our city and the salvation of many.
Father, make (insert name of your town/city/community) the light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Help us to let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.
--Adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City: 40 Days of Prayer for A Transformed Community by Trey and Mary Anne Kent.
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Saturday, February 03 2024
Thank you for the prayers and understanding yesterday. I slept over 15 hours yesterday and another 8 last night. I am feeling rested and better and hope to get back at things today. Working from rest is God's best and I was weary and in need of rest and God blessed with that choice. I could have pushed through possibly yesterday and then been more exhausted and sick today. Ministry happened throughout the building without me yesterday. PTL! And thank you to all our servants! God is using you! And God has refreshed me and brought me out of spiritual attack, refining, a depressive funk and weariness to a place of being able and ready to follow Him. The 23rd Psalm comes to mind. Check out the Harvest Prayer blog for today about that and pray it and pronounce it over you and us! The Lord is MY Shepherd! The Lord is OUR Shepherd! Amen!
Good Morning Humble, Readying, Reflectors and Followers of Jesus! As you pronounce this over you and our fellowship, the thought may come to you as to me, "Is Jesus really my Lord and Shepherd? Am I becoming more like Him? Am I willing and ready to go incarnate Him and His love when called to?" And many other self-examination questions. Part of my time the past few days as been a deep soul searching and questioning of God about these things and more. Self-examination before God with an open heart to receive His correcting love and a willingness to repent is essential to a healthy, fruitful walk with Christ. Praying earnestly to be pruned and prepared, repentant and purified will lead to some hard places and dark spots to walk through. BUT GOD! He walks through these dark valleys with us, comforts us and restores our souls. He leads us through the paths of righteousness for His names sake, not our glory, but His. When we pray, "Have at it Lord. Have all of me. Purify me. Make me more like Jesus." we will come to know that God has great plans for us, is with us and wanting to prepare us for His best. God has sure been at work with answering my prayer to die to self and be more earnest. And PTL there is light and joy and shalom as we walk out of that valley with Him!
We have just completed our first month of the Become More in '24 Challenge. Less of me and more of Christ and working at becoming more like Jesus this year and doing more of what He's wanting to do in and through us. It's almost like starting a new year's resolution but more earnestly and keeping at it for more than a week or two. Check out the article from the Upper Room below about "Building the Kingdom". This might lead you to a word or two to work on or be a reminder that we are called to work out our faith with fear and trembling and allow God to mold and stretch and purify us so that we are ready to continue to follow Him well into the new things, the better things, He has planned for us. He really does have some great things planned for you and us, custom made things that we are gifted to do to build His Kingdom and Church.
What's your part? What will you do about it? What may God need to purge from you? Who are you processing these things with? Who is covering you in prayer? Does God have to humble you or are you becoming more like Jesus and have His attitude of humble servant? Are you leaning on your own understanding or seeking God for more of His wisdom, direction, correction and help? OH so much soul searching I've been going through, but man has it been profitable and productive and will lead me to become more like Jesus. Join me! Process with me! Follow with me to God's greater and best things! We need each other! Amen. Check out our devos below speaking into these things today. Allow Jesus to be Your Lord and Shepherd with me!
The Christian life lived well is not for the weak and timid, just like getting old is not for sassy's! But remember, when we are weak, He is strong! Amen! God is in the business of transforming us into His image and into the people we are created to be. He has greater purposes for us that will be revealed as we allow Him full access with a humble willingness to allow Him to have His way with us. The Become More in '24 Challenge continues to take us deeper into Christ and His ways. We've worked through yearly challenges for the past few years that have led us here and have prepared us for what's next. We are becoming humble, readying, reflectors and followers of Jesus both individually and as His Body. And we are beginning to see the fruit of that labor. PTL! Let us continue to spur each other on as we earnestly pursue more of Christ and His ways! May we live more sacrificially and love more lavishly like Jesus the rest of the year and beyond--and together! Amen! I'm praying for you and God is cheering you on and His Spirit is in you and ready to help!
Harvest Prayer:
February 1 - The Lord Is My Shepherd
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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4, ESV)
The 23rd Psalm doesn’t actually have the word “peace” in it. Yet the entire psalm is about peace. As I focused on the One who walked with me in or through dark places, I realized that I did not need to fear any evil. Peace replaced fear because of the awareness of the presence of Christ with me.
From green pastures and still waters to dwelling forever in His house, David gives us a picture of peace and the means of peace. The key to all of what the psalm promises is the presence of God.
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, because you are with me.”
For followers of Jesus, the indwelling Spirit is an absolute promise. He is with us! The trouble often is our lack of awareness of that fact in the moment of danger or fear. That’s why it is so important to bring the power of the Word of God into our lives continually. Whether it is singing a psalm or praying it without melody, the promises of His presence will bring peace.
Make it a point each day to affirm the Lord’s presence in your life. You can use the phrase from Psalm 23 and simply say “because you are with me.”
Lord, I am so grateful that you have provided for me green pastures to lay down in and still water to walk alongside. Thank you for preparing a table before me, even in the presence of my enemies. How grateful to know that your goodness and mercy will be with me always and that you have provided for me an eternal home. “Because you are with me,” I will not fear. Most of all Lord, I am grateful that your presence is continually within me. Keep me aware of that amazing fact. Thank you for the peace that comes from your presence.
--Adapted from Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God (A 30-Day Journey to Experience the Shalom of Jesus) by David Butts. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God that “from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36).
- Thank God for being both your dwelling place and your destination.
- Confess times that you have tried to live independently of his authority.
- Commit yourself to offering your body “as [a] living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom. 12:1).
- Ask God to help you in “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, [to] do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17).
- Pray for all the unsaved persons in your city, that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11).
Prayer Pointer
“Prayer is hardest when it is hardest to pray.” —Anonymous
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UR Post:
Charles Stanley from yesterday I was unable to share
Charles Stanley: Today
ODB:
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After a game, a college basketball star stayed behind to help workers throw out empty cups and food wrappers. When a fan posted a video of him in action, more than eighty thousand people viewed it. One person commented, “[The young man] is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life.” It would’ve been easier for the basketball player to leave with his teammates and celebrate his role in the team’s victory. Instead, he volunteered for a thankless job.
The ultimate spirit of humility is seen in Jesus, who left His high position in heaven to take the role of a servant on earth (Philippians 2:7). He didn’t have to do it, but He willingly humbled Himself. His ministry on earth included teaching, healing, and loving all people—and dying and rising to save them.
Although Christ’s example can inspire us to sweep a floor, pick up a hammer, or dish up food, it may be most powerful when it finds its way into our attitude toward others. True humility is an inner quality that not only changes our actions but also changes what’s important to us. It motivates us to “value others above [ourselves]” (v. 3).
Author and preacher Andrew Murray said, “Humility is the bloom and the beauty of holiness.” May our lives reflect this beauty as, through the power of His Spirit, we reflect the heart of Christ (vv. 2–5).
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
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How has Jesus’ humility affected you? In what areas are you tempted to be prideful?
Dear Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself for me. Help me to follow Your example of valuing others’ needs above my own.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Philippians 2:5-11 describes what Jesus gave up by coming to earth and becoming a man, and it’s spawned much debate over the centuries. Verse 6 affirms that prior to His incarnation, Christ was equal to the Father in every way. But in coming to earth, He “made himself nothing” (v. 7) or “emptied Himself” (nasb) of something. The key issue is found in the word emptied (Greek kenoō). Some have said that He emptied Himself of His deity, but, if so, how could His sacrifice fully atone for our sins? The most satisfying view is that He retained His deity and all His attributes but set aside the right to use those powers for His own benefit. Instead, He chose to submit to the Father’s will and purpose.
Examine the evidence that God became a man.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Promptings from God
Who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV)
I had kept a Bible in the backseat of my car for several weeks with the belief that God would show me whom to give it to at the right moment. When I arrived at work one morning and got out of my car, I felt a conviction and a nudge from God that I should take the Bible inside with me.
That morning, one of my co-workers looked sad and subdued. She told me that her dad was being tested for a serious illness and explained her fears about his possible diagnosis. Feeling certain this was the reason God had prompted me to bring the Bible inside, I took it out of my bag and told her about my belief. She hugged me, thanking me with tears in her eyes. I told her it was not my merit; I was only an instrument in God’s hands.
I prayed for my co-worker’s dad. Ultimately, the test results showed that the doctor’s concerns about possible serious illness had been wrong. My co-worker now looks to the future with confidence, and she places her hope in God. Every day we try to find time at work for a little break with God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for listening to our prayers, for opening our hearts, for helping us to give joyfully to others, and for giving us clear convictions and guidance. Amen.
TWFYT:
Don 
Wednesday, January 31 2024
Please see Sarah email below and add to that a prayer for Darlene Skinner who hasn't been well since Sunday.
Check out the harvest Prayer final month-long prayer for revival below. Messenger not working today so unable to include photos of some of today's devos.
Pastor Don has been under spiritual attack the past week with sleepless nights and weariness. He is also under some refining from God as he allows some refining and opportunities to work on His Words "agape" and "earnest". He is currently under the influence of Nyquil and recovering from an 11 hour sleep. He is a bit under the weather and could use a prayer covering and prayers for health and strength for a 12 hour day at the church with much ministry. Thanks! Pray for wisdom and for God to have full access as He leads our pastor.
Below are our devotionals for the day for you to use to draw close to God. What's He saying to you and what will you do about it? Below Sarah's email is Jesus' teaching on the Talents from Matt. 25 from the Message translation. How are you investing in God's Kingdom with what you've been given? That includes time, talent, treasure and gifts and abilities. Are you stewarding well while sowing lavishly as commanded. We need each other to process and sow and steward well. God has made us and brought us together to discern and to sow and steward well and in balance. Don't be afraid to trust the God of the impossible with what you've been given because sowing lavishly is stewarding the best when done for and with our Master. Check out the extra lesson on building the Kingdom in the UR today. Who might you process this all with? God has called our leadership to be a vision team for the church. We seek, process and try to follow well, even when out of our comfort zones because we know God's ways are best! But we also need to temper that with not running ahead or lagging behind. There is balance and shalom when following God well together with all our different leanings, abilities and gifts. Follow Shalom always! But expect to be stretched as we do that together. God has great plans for you and us together and for revival! He is showing us signs of things to come with the personal and corporate growth in faith and action and even in growing our numbers. PTL! Let us sow lavishly and sacrificially into all God is revealing and doing. Pray we see the closed and open doors and keep looking forward with anticipation to the new things God is and wants to do. Amen!
Sarah Email:
Good evening, Warriors.....
Here is a thought to ponder and take it as a challenge:
How about we make a commitment to start investing our time in using our spiritual gifts and
working with the Lord each moment, instead of wasting our time. Why? Why should we accept
the challenge? Because we don't want to come to the end of our lives and look back and have
nothing but regret. That can be one of the saddest things that can happen to a person.
So let's accept the challenge, and invest all of our time to living our lives, every moment, every thought,
every action we do, for the Lord, as He would have us.....making Him proud!!!
** ** **
I have a few updates to share:
Kay and Jim Handfest are asking for prayer for their daughter, Sarah. She is having her baby on February 3rd.
Sarah is 40 years old and they are asking for prayer for a safe delivery and that both mommy and baby will be fine
and healthy.
** ** * *
Update on Larry Kunkle - he is scheduled for heart catheterization tomorrow (Wednesday) at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
After this procedure he will be admitted for additional heart tests until Feb 7th. He will then be discharged and return to hospital
on Feb 16th for oral surgery. The family is asking for prayers for steady hands for the surgeon, all to go well and for peace for Larry as
he goes through this. The family is grateful for all our prayers.
** ** **
Let's continue to pray for our young people/children. There is a lot of peer pressure out there in our schools and playgrounds. Pray for God's protection over them. Pray that God will put the full armor of God on them from the start of the day and pray that they are reminded that they are NEVER alone! Jesus is always with them.
** ** **
Tomorrow/today is Bread Ministry. Pray for those that are volunteering and those that come through the doors to get bread
May the sense God's presences and His love.
Thank you all for your prayers....
Have a good night/day!
Blessings,
Sarah
Matt. 25:14-30 MSG Translation
14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.
19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
22-23 “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’
26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
28-30 “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Harvest Prayer:
January 31, 2024 - What Are the Next Steps in Your Revival Journey? A Message from OneCry Founder, Byron Paulus
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“It is time to seek the Lord, until He comes . . .” Hosea 10:12
What a journey this has been! For me personally, it has been far more than simply learning about revival for 30 days . . . it has inspired me to seek God every day from now on until God sends widespread revival! That is what Hosea not only exhorted us WHAT to do but also instructed us HOW to do it. He lays out both the precursor and the potential of revival.
Precursor:
Sowing in righteousness – Am I sowing seeds of obedience to God’s Word?
Reaping steadfast love – Am I experiencing the love of God to its fullest?
Breaking up my fallow ground – Am I asking God to show me and break me over my sin?
Potential:
Until He comes – Am I expecting God’s presence in revival?
Rains righteousness upon you – Am I excited about the fruit of revival?
What’s next? After an entire month of praying for revival what practical steps do I take to foster the scope and scale of revival that could fuel a nationwide or global spiritual awakening? Let me suggest three simple steps:
1. Inspire: Cast vision for revival to everyone you meet. Inspire others to seek the Lord personally and ask them to encourage others to do the same.
2. Resource: Share this resource and other revival resources with those who share in your heart for an outpouring of God’s Spirit in our day. Discover resources at harvestprayer.com and onecry.com.
3. Mobilize: Be a catalyst to mobilize church and community leaders. Ask God to raise up passionate Christian leaders who will unite as influencers for spiritual awakening.
I often get asked, “once I experience personal revival how do I continue in revival?” I reply by saying, “What it takes to have revival is what it takes to keep revival.” Applying that principle, perhaps you want to spend the next 30 days doing exactly what you have been doing . . . praying Hope-Filled Prayers for Revival and asking God to “Do It Again” in your heart.
Here is a prayer to pray that embraces the principles of revival in Psalm 74 and makes them our own. It was written by the late David Butts of Harvest Prayer:
Father, like ancient Israel, we too live in a day in which Your Name is mocked. Many times this happens because of the shortcomings and sins of those of us who are followers of Your holy Son, Jesus. Lord, we confess our sins and the way we have lived our lives as Christians apart from complete dependence upon You. We repent of this shameful self-sufficiency and throw ourselves upon Your mercy.
Gracious God, our lifestyle has often led unbelievers to insult and attack Your very nature and character. We ask You, Lord, to rise up and defend Yourself. Would You awaken Your people to the reality of Your presence in our midst and in so doing transform our lives into the character of Christ that You desire to see in us? May Your life lived out in Your Church begin to demonstrate to the world Your love, grace, mercy and overwhelming power on behalf of Your saints. Would You allow the kingdom principles that govern heaven to begin to be made manifest on earth? We ask You to revive Your people so that we may rejoice in You and demonstrate in our lives the awesome, transforming power of Jesus Christ in His Church. Amen.
Additional Resources For You:
Sign up for a 7-day Personal Revival Journey.
OneCry Monthly Prayer Guide
Personal Revival: An article by Dave Butts, Harvest Prayer
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ODB:
Fully Surrendered to Christ
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:36
READ Mark 8:34–38
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In 1920, John Sung, the sixth child of a Chinese pastor, received a scholarship to study at a university in the United States. He graduated with the highest honors, completed a master’s program, and earned a PhD. But while pursuing his studies, he had walked away from God. Then, one night in 1927, he surrendered his life to Christ and felt called to be a preacher.
Many high-paying opportunities awaited him back in China, but on the ship home, he was convicted by the Holy Spirit to lay aside his ambitions. As a symbol of his commitment, he threw all his awards into the sea, keeping only his PhD certificate to give to his parents out of respect for them.
John Sung understood what Jesus said about becoming His disciple: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). As we deny ourselves and leave our old life behind to follow Christ and His leading (vv. 34–35), it may mean sacrificing personal desires and material gain that distract us from following Him.
For the next twelve years, John carried out his God-given mission wholeheartedly, preaching the gospel to thousands throughout China and Southeast Asia. How about us? We may not be called to be preachers or missionaries, but wherever God calls us to serve, by His Spirit working in us, may we fully surrender to Him.
By Jasmine Goh
REFLECT & PRAY
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What do you need to surrender in order to truly follow Jesus? What are some personal ambitions you may be holding on to?
Father, help me to set aside whatever hinders me from fully surrendering to You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In his commentary on Mark, William Hendriksen calls Mark 8:34-38 a “brief but beautiful little paragraph.” How can words about following a “cross-carrying” Christ be described as “beautiful”? The brevity and simplicity of Jesus’ words, along with their clarity, contribute to their beauty. In Mark 8:31-32, Jesus spoke of His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection (see also 9:30-32; 10:32-34). The invitation in 8:34 is to “whoever.” Verse 35 highlights that self-preservation is ultimately deceiving; self-surrender to Christ is lifesaving. In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps us see that communion with Jesus in the manner presented in these verses is what the life in Christ is all about: “The cross is laid on every Christian. . . . Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Inspired to write
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
When I arrived home from painting class, I checked my email. My mood plummeted when I found that my devotional submission had been rejected. I reviewed the list of possible reasons for the rejection that the publisher sent. Then I read my meditation several times, trying to discern why it wasn’t accepted.
For aspiring writers, rejections are discouraging. Sometimes rejected meditations cause me to doubt my God-given purpose. But still I labor at my craft. My heart’s desire is to glorify God through my writing and to share my faith experiences with others.
But writing is hard work. It requires discipline and commitment, as well as a teachable spirit. Rejections, though discouraging, are also a catalyst for continued learning and practice. So when discouragement threatens to derail my efforts, I recall today’s quoted verse and remember why I write: It’s an expression of my love for others and for God. Whether or not my meditations are published, God is pleased with my efforts. When God weaves within us a divine purpose, God also equips us to persevere. And so as my words flow across the page, I continue to answer God’s call on my life.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us remain committed when we face rejection. Give us teachable spirits and the will to persevere in our response to your call. Amen.
Tuesday, January 30 2024
Thanks to Sarah for bringing a great Word yesterday, Lori and the 2 Peas in a Pod Team for a great lunch and all of you for showing great love to our visitors. (estimate is over 65 at brunch yesterday with many guests and some new faces)
This week:
Tues Zoom Huddle 10am. All welcome!
Wed Bread distribution 10-12; Family Ministries/Adult Dinner and Video Huddle
Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet
Sun after worship is our annual Congregational Meeting (we will have a zoom link running as well)
Good Morning Discerners of the Times, Prepared Harvest Workers! It doesn't take a rocket scientists to discern that the times are dark, evil, and getting worse. It feels like Satan has control of this world, doesn't it? Yet we are called to be the Light that shines in the darkness. God promises an end times harvest. We know that as the end of time approaches things will get more dark and evil. God has been calling us to prepare and be ready--daylight's burning. So many are praying for Jesus to come back. Are you praying and readying for that? What will Jesus find you doing if He returns today?
Check out the Harvest Prayer Revival prayer below affirming what I said the other day about "both/and". As watchman discern the times we need to be discerning and informed with biblical truth. It will be both dark and Light when Jesus returns. Times will be the worst ever, yet the Great Day of the Lord will be the most awesome day for those being saved. Until then we are charged to prepare earnestly and bring those God is drawing along. Yes, be discerning of the times but don't buy into the lies that all is hopeless or that our God is a myth or very distant and His ways futile. Turn off THAT noise and tune into God's Truth. He is coming back. As the time approaches, it will get very dark and evil. Be earnest and prepared, persevering as you harvest. And remember, Jesus promises to be with us until the end. The commission He gave before that promise was to go and make disciples. My prayer is that I will be preparing you for that and be part of His end time harvesting faithful ones who persevere until the end. Please pray earnestly into that as you seek God for how He desires to use you for such a time as this. He has plans for you and us to discover as we prepare faithfully.
God had several threads coming to me during my quiet time today through our devotionals and my prayer time. What's He saying to you as you sit at His feet and discern the times and your part in His plans? Yesterday, Sarah reminded us that we are part of God's Body and no matter who we are, we all have an important part in that Body functioning well. We are talking about spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit growing in us is the measure of how well we are shedding our old nature and stepping into our new in Christ nature. How would you rate these fruit growing in you: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control? (check out ODB below) If we really want to become more like Jesus and really want to be more prepared for what lies ahead, we need to allow the Holy Spirit full access to us and allow Him to mold us, lead us and use us for God's glory. As we step from our old ways into God's best this fruit will grow and the old and rotten will be replaced with much better, good and pleasing fruit in God's eyes. But, man, dying to self and following Jesus to the Father's best for us can be so hard. the lure of this world is strong and Satan keeps prowling about trying to detour us from God's best. Be strong in Christ! Stand firm on the Rock. Pursue what really matters according to God.
I'm going to allow you to work on discerning the times, what God is revealing to you today, and how He wants to direct and give you the desires of your heart that align with His. Have you sought God for a word to two to work on this year as He leads you to spiritual growth and prepared service. (Please let Sarah and me know your words so we can pray and encourage you this year!) I've been praying into that almost daily and I think God wants me to continue to have last years words in focus because He is still working on me with "agape" (dying to self and loving like Jesus) and "disciple making, even though I have made some progress. However, He 's given me two new words for this year to be more focused on as I seek to become more like Jesus in '24. "Earnest" and "Ready" are my two words. It will involve growth at pursuing being more earnest in my walk and ways and being ready when God says go, willing to stop my agenda for His and follow well. God keeps reminding me that in this life Christ is all that matters and my assignment is to be ready to roll with Him to advance His Kingdom no matter what I face when He says go. He wants me to be more earnest in my being purified and ready. He is coming back and until then He has a great plan for me (and us) that will help with that and bring soul satisfaction and joy as I (we) enjoy this life He's given us. Maybe balanced would be another word as we have responsibilities in this world and His Kingdom as duel citizens. But He does promise to provide all we need as we follow Him earnestly and work at becoming more like Jesus in '24 and beyond. Are you ready? I'm earnestly working on that and praying for us all to be about our Father's business more earnestly. Amen!
We are all on a journey and Jesus invites us to come as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way! Follow Him and His peace and provision and you will know true joy as you discern what really matters and pursue it more earnestly. Amen! Keep you eyes and ears open and your heart willing and ready! Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added. PTL! Keep working at living and loving more like Jesus and great fruit will be forthcoming! Yes! And Amen!
Harvest Prayer Revival Blog:
January 29, 2024 - Praying for Revival (Day 29): Morning and Night Are Coming
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One group of watchmen says we are moving into the greatest days in the history of the American Church. The other says we are facing God’s imminent judgment and very difficult days.
Having wrestled with this, I’m proposing something I believe the Lord has helped me grasp. In Isaiah 21:11–12 we read: “‘Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?’ The watchman replies, ‘Morning is coming, but also the night.’” It sounds as though the watchman doesn’t understand.
Could it be that the Lord wants us to recognize that when we see only one of the messages, we are receiving only part of what watchmen are to see? Could it be that God is saying we need both mindsets as we move closer to Christ’s return?
If this is true, then it changes how we pray. What if, biblically, we are to expect a mighty move of God in the midst of great darkness and judgment? What if we are indeed moving into a time of deep darkness but in the midst of it the light of Christ will shine more brightly?
God is the Watchman over it all, so let’s keep praying according to His heart. “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night.”
I praise You, Father, that You rule over both the morning and the night, the light and the darkness. I trust You no matter what may come my way, and I will pray with an expectant heart for another great move of Your hand and an unprecedented harvest of lost people. Prepare me to be the light of Christ to others, even if that is in the midst of persecution and hardship. Help me to be an alert and discerning watchman on the wall as I pray for Your return. Even in darkness, may the Church be the brilliant light of the glory of Jesus to this nation and to the world.
Pr a y e r Po i n t s:
• Praise God that He rules over both the morning and the night, light and darkness. Express your trust in Him no matter what comes your way.
• Pray with an expectant heart for a great move of God and an unprecedented harvest of lost people.
• Ask God to prepare you to be the light of Christ to others, even if it is in the midst of persecution and hardship.
• Pray that you will be an alert and discerning watchman on the wall as you pray toward the Lord’s return.
• Pray that even in darkness, the Church will be the brilliant light of the glory of Christ to our nation and the world.
--Adapted from Day 29 by Dale Schlafer: Do It Again, Lord (30 Days of Hope-Filled Prayer for Revival) compiled and edited by Carol Madison.
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ODB:
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The young pastor prayed every morning, asking God to use him that day to bless someone. Often, to his delight, such a situation arose. One day during a break at his second job, he sat in the sunshine with a coworker who asked him about Jesus. The pastor simply answered the other man’s questions. No rant. No arguing. The pastor commented that being guided by the Holy Spirit led him to have a casual talk that felt effective but loving. He made a new friend as well—someone hungry to learn more about God.
Letting the Holy Spirit lead us is the best way to tell others about Jesus. He told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
The fruit of the Spirit “is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Living under the Spirit’s control, that young pastor put into practice what Peter instructed: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Even if we suffer for believing in Christ, our words can show the world that His Spirit leads us. Then our walk will draw others to Him.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What’s your communication style when telling others about Jesus? How would letting the Holy Spirit lead make your talks more effective?
As I tell others about Jesus, please lead me, Holy Spirit, to speak with Your love.
For further study, read Live Free: A Fresh Look at the Fruit of the Spirit.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Galatians 5, we tend to focus on the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23), which believers in Jesus should display. But it’s also important to note how the Spirit’s fruit contrasts with the works of the flesh (vv. 19-21). Paul describes these works as “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Line that up against the fruit of the Spirit, and the difference in quality of life is apparent. Notice the destructive nature of the works of the flesh—which include spiritual, moral, and relational failures—compared with the life-affirming nature of the fruit of the Spirit, which is important for the believer’s witness to the world. While all the works of the flesh are in violation of the law of Moses, Paul says of the Spirit’s fruit, “Against such things there is no law” (v. 23).
Bill Crowder |
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UR: It's All in the Family
Paul wrote, “I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” - Ephesians 3:14-15 (NIV)
I hate to admit it, but my children and grandchildren are not perfect. But even though I may not always agree with or approve of their actions, I will forever love them unconditionally. I consider myself a tolerant person, but I don’t appreciate it when others want to harm or criticize my family. In those times, I will speak up even though I’m timid.
Because of the intense love I feel for my family, I think I have a small understanding of God’s love for all of us, God’s children. None of us is perfect, but we are all God’s creation. When I want to be critical or judgmental of others, I try to remind myself that I would not appreciate hateful remarks about my own family. I need to give the same respect to God’s children.
Furthermore, as a parent and grandparent, nothing thrills me more than when others recognize the goodness of my family and give them support and affection. As imperfect as we all are, I believe God is truly pleased when we see and appreciate the good in God’s children.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for loving us all as your children. We pray that you will guide us to love all your children as you have loved us. Amen.
Charles Stanley:
TWFYT:
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