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Saturday, July 20 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! Thank Him for using sinners like us to reach sinners like us and lead them to His mercy, grace, forgiveness and eternal life! meditate on what the implications of all of this are for you and what God may be wanting you to repent of and/or do.
Good Morning Forgiven Much, Loved Extravagantly, Sent Ones! Amen! Pronounce that over you and us. Believe it. Be it more in '24! Jesus said follow Me and I will give you rest for your souls. That is His easy yoke we've been discussing recently. Work on being who you are created and gifted to be in Christ and follow Him to your created purposes. This sweet spot in Christ and your identity brings peace, joy, and satisfaction that's hard to explain.
Check out Harvest's blogs on following Jesus and pray the prayer at the end. Engage with the Upper Room devo and remember, Jesus took naps. Taking times of rest and refreshing can be hard for us driven work-a-holics. I know. I owned my own business for 15 years and took little vacation. growing up my dad worked two jobs and we only could afford to take day trips. In my 20 and 30's my vacations were usually two to three days to go do something. I have no idea how to get away and unplug and do nothing. It drives me crazy. Yet we are called to work from rest like Jesus. For some of us going away to an isolated place and sitting around for a week is recharging. And for some, like me, that drives us crazy and we would rather just keep working. It's hard for Karen and me who recharge differently to plan good vacations and times of rest and recharging. But we try. Today is my day off and I am going to be doing all kinds of yard work. That is recharging to me even though I beat my body. Tomorrow I do my chaplain stuff at the track, That is so recharging. What ministers to your soul and spirit that allows recharging? Make time for it. It is healthy to work from rest. The Word for You Today helps us think about making the right choices. Are you choosing well? Are you choosing God's best for you? Who helps you see the blind spots when you're not? Be still and know that He is God. Seek first the Kingdom ways. Don't lean on your own understanding. What is God's best and how are you preparing to do that? Are you able to get still enough to hear God's voice and process before forging ahead into your plans and agendas? Our Daily Bread reminds us of the brokenness many of us are traveling through. Yet God is there preparing and walking with us and wanting to use that to grow us and bless others. You are created for His purposes and he knows how to get you there. And His purposes include blessing all kinds of other people. Taking care of widows, orphans and foreigners is part of our ministry that God is blessing because it is part of His plan. How might he want to use your brokenness to refocus and bless others? Do it! Sometimes when we don't rest and recharge, we end up in the hospital, sick, depressed--broken. I know! And God uses that memory to push me to push you to work from rest. I struggle with taking vacations that bless Karen too. God uses that brokenness to lead me to better choices. I struggle with all this open border, illegals stuff. yet they are here to stay. So how might God change our thinking and want us to bless them? Pray into that. That could be part of our next ministry? Charles Stanley reminds us that God is always good and every good and perfect thing comes from Him--it's a gift, like our salvation, new life, and growth as disciples and apostles. It's a reminder to trust and obey. We are a work in process and progress. He has great plans for us that flourish and grow as we seek, trust, obey and follow His examples well. Thanks Lord! Help us grow in trust and obedience and be a blessing to you and many. help us to live and love like Jesus more in '24.Amen!
What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? He has great plans that will bless you, Him and others. Chose well today as you worship and live and love like Jesus! You can know His peace, rest and joy! Shalom!
Harvest blogs:
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Jesus recruited a known cheat, a thuggish tax collector named Matthew (Levi) as a disciple. Then, to the abhorrence of the “righteous” religious leaders, He walked to Matthew’s house and broke bread with the tax collector and his sinner friends.
When Jesus proclaims in Matthew 9:9, “Follow me,” He invites sinners to journey with Him, and the invitation isn’t cold and detached, but warm and relational. Compassion drenches every word and deed of Jesus, so instead of exacting His power to punish, He extends a hand of fellowship.
Simultaneously, while ministering to sinners, He teaches the righteous how to behave in a godly way. In Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus says, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The righteous can’t judge a sinner into being a follower: not effective. The righteous can follow Jesus’s example: Jesus as the Almighty, Righteous God loves a sinner into following Him. His love doesn’t condone sin but looks past it to love (spend time with) the person. His love and kindness bring that individual to repentance.
Lord, You’re amazing. I repent for every time I’ve judged a person or situation. Help me, Lord, to look at others through Your eyes and treat sinners as You treat them. Reorganize my impulses and inclinations so I represent You well. I declare that with Your wisdom, I will be merciful. With Your empowerment, I will love sinners into a right-standing relationship with You. With Your steadfastness, I will courageously fellowship with, yet live an uncompromised life before sinners. Thank You for making this possible. I praise You for living inside of me. I’m not my own, but Yours. I praise You for the blood making me righteous in Your sight. I praise You for the life You gave me. I praise You for seeing all I do and am purposed to do in You. You’re my all in all. Praise the Holy One, the Righteous One, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
--Adapted from Praying What Jesus Says by Natasha Miller. 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 Son of God, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Thank God for the depth of the riches of that wisdom and knowledge (Rom. 11:33).
- Confess those areas of your work or personal life for which you have forgotten to ask his wisdom and guidance.
- Commit yourself to calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding, to looking for it as for silver and searching for it as for hidden treasure (Prov. 2:3).
- Ask God to let his discretion protect you and his understanding guard you.
- Intercede for the parents you know who are struggling with raising their children, that God will open their hearts to his wisdom.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Upper Room: Work and Rest
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
I grew up on a farm, where responsibility and hard work were high priorities. These values were so highly prized that I still struggle with taking time and resources to spend on recreation and relaxation.
After studying the Bible, I came to realize that God often instructed the people to take time from their work to celebrate and enjoy life. We need times like this to rejuvenate ourselves so we can continue with our life’s occupation and our work for the Lord. We read in Mark 6:31-32 that even Jesus took his disciples away from ministering to a large crowd so they could be physically replenished.
After a revival during Nehemiah’s days, God’s people were instructed to eat, drink, and celebrate. Then Nehemiah adds, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Replenishing our bodies with rest and our souls with nourishment are spiritual disciplines that Christians need to follow so that we maintain the strength we need to follow God’s call on our lives.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord God, provide us with nourishment, rest, and recreation so we can have the resources to serve you and others joyfully. Amen.TWFYT:
ODB:
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His back is hunched, and he walks with a cane, but his many years of spiritual shepherding are evidence that he leans on God—the source of his strength. In 1993, the Reverend William Barber II was diagnosed with a debilitating disease that causes the vertebrae of the spine to fuse together. In a not-so-subtle way, he was told, “Barber, you probably gonna need to figure out another thing to do besides pastoring, because the church ain’t gonna want [someone disabled] to be their pastor.” But Barber overcame that hurtful comment. God has not only used him as a pastor, but he’s also been a powerful, respected voice for underserved and marginalized people.
Though the world may not fully know what to do with those with disabilities, God does. Those who value beauty and brawn and things that money can buy can miss the good that accompanies uninvited brokenness. The rhetorical question of James and the principle underneath it are worth considering: “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5). When health or strength or other things are reduced, one’s faith needn’t follow suit. By God’s strength, it can be the opposite. Our lack can be a catalyst to trust Him. Our brokenness, as was the case with Jesus, can be used of Him to bring good to our world.
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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In what ways are you weak or broken? How can your weakness be used as an asset to encourage others?
Father, please help me to bring You honor despite my weaknesses.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The oppression of the poor by the rich is a miscarriage of justice in every society. James warns of the sins of favoring the rich and discriminating against the poor. To avoid such sins, he tells us to “keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (2:8, quoting Leviticus 19:18). The royal law warns of perverting justice based on socioeconomic status: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15). Our perfectly impartial God doesn’t show favoritism: “He defends . . . the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner . . . giving them food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:18). James reminds us: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
K. T. Sim |
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CS:
Saturday, July 20 2024
Sarah email and challenge below (*thanks Sarah)
*One correction, I believe Harry Hebig's service is at the Emmaus location. Will know for certain today when obit is published.
Study and meditate on Ephesians 2 this week as we will be discussing Sunday
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Good Morning Pursuers of God's Customized Vision and Plans and Doers of His Word! Amen! Check out Sarah's message about pursuing God's vision and plans for you. They are custom made for you for such a time as this and part of Jesus' easy yoke for you. PTL! We are reminded in Eph. 2:10 that we are God's masterpieces. We are made new in Christ. And that God wants us to do the things He has planned for us since He created us. Understanding your purposes needs to be followed by doing what God reveals. Sarah's picture of the stagnant lake reminds me of the Dead Sea. Why is it dead? Because nothing flows out. It takes in all kinds of nutrients and fresh living water that builds up, stagnates and dies because there is no outlet. How often have we heard teachings on doing and being doers of the Word? A lot, I believe. We have all this head knowledge about the Bible and know God, but unless we follow Him out and allow Him to use us to make Him known, we stagnate and eventually become useless for His purposes. But here's the promise, God knows, loves and has great plans custom made for you for today and everyday to follow. And He promises to guide us and be with us as we take those steps of faith to go and make Him known. PTL! We can do nothing of value without Him. So, seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness and then put on that easy yoke and go practice living and loving like Jesus and watch how He uses you, just as you are. Next thing you know, you'll be growing into His greater things He has planned for you and you will be known as springs of Living Water! Amen!
What's God saying to you as you seek Him and His plans for you and our Body? What will you do about it? Who is helping you process, plan and go? Pray for God to raise up your co-laborers and to connect you to a small group. Pray for us to get some prayer ministry and small groups started in the next few months. That is the vision God has given me for our Body--gather, pray, process, prepare and go make Him known. He has a perfect part in that just for you! Wonder what it might be? Whatever it is, it will be a joy because you were crafted to do it and God will be with you! Amen!
Our EC motto is to know Christ and make Him known. As we work on the EC vision of becoming a dynamic movement of God, it will be built upon seeking and knowing God and will only come to life as we go and make Him known. We all have a custom part in His Good News Delivery Co. What's yours? Seek Him and process that with some others today. He promises to go with you, guide you, and make Himself known to and through you. Check out the rest of our devos below and the Harvest blog on revival. God is speaking and weaving us together for such a time as this. May we be earnest in our pursuit to grow at becoming more like Jesus and living and loving like Him. Amen!
Yesterday was a unique Bread Ministry Day. they are all different, really. I always pray for God to use me and connect me to those He is sending and for Him to use me well. He always answers those prayers and in different ways each week. PTL! Your part could be to pray for God to open doors, draw people to Him and for us to connect to them and them to Him? Your part could be helping to serve the bread and greet people? Your part could be sitting there watching for the ones God is sending to you and allowing Him to use you? Maybe your part is helping to pick up the bread and set it up? Or maybe God has another plan for your day? Seek Him and follow well everyday!
Yesterday, God sent Joan, Karen Latch's sister. Joan usually stops in for a bit to get bread and chat and visit her sister. Yesterday she was there when we opened and stayed until we closed. She needed to be out of the house and around God's people that care. They rent an apartment in their basement to her husband's best friend. Monday that man waited for them to leave for dinner and committed suicide in their driveway. They are devastated and have no clue why. He obviously premediated everything, no one knows why. People passed in and out while we hung out and chatted. Then Amber and Arianna stopped in and sat down with us and shortly after Chuck joined us. We just sat and chatted. Chuck was hurting from having a funeral for a friend Mon. Amber and Arianna are praying for healing and peace for Ramone. It was just a time to sit, listen, chat and encourage. Then God sent an angel in a new face of a young Christian mother and her 6 month old. Shortly baby Asa (named after the King that brought revival to Israel) was on Joan's lap. Joan had been a NICU nurse for years and loves kids. God, Asa and this young mother were used by God to bring some peace and a heaven sent distraction for a few minutes. As bread ministry ended, and the others left, I was able to pray with Joan and for her husband. Now how hard was that? Jesus' easy yoke sometimes means just to show love, care, concern, share a listening ear and to just allow Him to place you right where He has planned for you to be, just as you are. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will direct you to what He has planned for you. Here I am Lord. Send me! Use me as I am. Bless others and You as I allow you to love through me. Thanks! Amen! What's your plan for me/us today? Lead us and be our Shepherd. Come! Bring revival and may it begin in me and through our Body. Amen!
Sarah email:
Good evening, church family,
Just a few things to share with you:
Harry Hebig is finally home, in the arms of Jesus. His services will be on Monday, July 22 with visitation from 10 - 11am, and the service will begin at 11:00am at the Bachman Kulik Funeral Home, 1629 Hamilton St Allentown
Please continue to keep Harry's family in your prayers during this difficult time.
Mary Rehm had her shoulder surgery today. I spoke with her this evening, and she is home and resting. Dealing with some pain. She is scheduled to being therapy on Friday. Pray that she gets a good night's rest. She is very thankful for Marshall being there to assist her. You both are in our prayers!
Bread ministry went well today. Please continue to pray for all the volunteers that it takes to make the bread
distribution take place and bless many families.
Continue to pray for those that are still without electricity due to the storms that have passed through. Also pray for the safety of all the workers who are cutting down trees and repairing the electrical lines.
Marylou Snyder is a proud grandmother......her grandson, Matthew Bachert. He has been working towards becoming an EMT on the National Registry. A few weeks ago he passed the practical part of the test. Yesterday, he took the final exam and he passed!!! Matthew Bachert is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. Congratulations, Matthew! Marylou is sooo proud of him!!
Don't forget to pop a birthday card into the USPS box for GLADYS KETNER, She will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday. Let's le her know that we are thinking of her.
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Where are you going?
Many of us like to write out a list to help us accomplish things, things that need/should be accomplished in your day.
I like to have lists as I like to check or cross the items off as I accomplish them.
Some have said that if they don't have a list, or agenda to follow, they fear their day would be wasted, as they wouldn't know what to do with their time.
The list gives them direction, provides guidance and helps hold them accountable for their day.
We could say the lists we make, whether daily or weekly could be called our "VISION"
Vision is defined as the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be. Think about it, if we didn't have a vision of what we wanted to get completed, we may just end up sitting on the sofa or our favorite chair all day long........
Even our awesome God tells us that it's necessary for us to have a vision - to know where we are headed.
Provers 29:18 says, Where there is no vision {no revelation of God and His Word} the people are unrestrained. But Happy and blessed is he who keeps the law (of God)
God wants each of us to seek out His vision for each of their lives; for our church families. For if we don't have a vision from God, as to where He wants to use us or take us, we become like a stagnant pond - that is filled with water that just sits there.
Eventually the water becomes yucky and bug infested and not good for anything. You can't swim in it, you can't drink it, and it's not even pretty to look at. If we don't ask God for HIS VISION for our lives, we will become like that pond - nothing is flowing in (God's Words are not flowing into our hearts/minds) and nothing is flowing out (meaning there is no evidence being shown to the world around us, of our Love for God. There is no evidence that we even have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
We Need to have a vision as we travel on our Jesus Journey -
May I challenge you today, that if you are unsure of your vision for Christ, and what it is...... ASK HIM. ASK Him to open your eyes and heart so you may see your vision being revealed to you by your Heavenly Father.
Whatever He shows you is His vision for YOUR life - know you are not alone - He will help you to work through it. He will not leave you alone - As Jeremiah 29:11 says " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
If you discovered your VISION a while back and have seemed to have forgotten it or you have never really sought out what your vision is.....now is the time! May I challenge you, today, to find some quiet place to sit and ask God - "what is Your vision for me?"
Prayerfully open your heart and ears to receive what God is going to tell you!!!
That is all I have for now, praying you all have a great rest of your week!
Blessings,
Sarah
Harvest:
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July 18 - Awakening from Spiritual Slumber
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There have been six seasons of great revival and spiritual harvest in America to date. Historians debate the dates and the extent of each has varied.
- The First Great Awakening 1735-1742
- The Second Great Awakening 1800-1825
- The Prayer Revival 1857-1858
- The Welsh Revival 1904-1905
- The Jesus Movement 1969-1971
Notice that every 50-60 years in our history God has graciously come in power to our nation bringing the course correction that we desperately need.
The telling mark of these movements have not been just the change in the churches, but the rapid expansion of the gospel. Awakening implies that a man is in a spiritual slumber, unable to find God. God in His grace quickens his heart, bringing him to an awareness of his sin, a deep desire for repentance, and faith to believe in Christ. In times of national spiritual awakening this happens with stunning speed.
In the First Great Awakening 15% of the population was saved. Do the math on your city or state and you will see the massive nature of such a movement. During the height of the 1857 revival, it was reported that 20,000 people a week were coming to faith in Christ! In the Welsh revival, 100,000 people experienced salvation in 9 months, fulfilling the vision God had given to Evan Roberts in prayer, and this happened the a country that is the size of a small American state. That Awakening literally swept around the world, dramatically affecting America as well.
Records of the largest denomination of its time, the Southern Baptist Convention in America, show that more students and teenagers were baptized in 1969-1971 than any moment in that denomination’s history—before or since. This was during the Jesus Movement.
If you long for millions to be saved, pray for a nationwide, spiritual awakening.
Lord of the Harvest, awaken Your people again! Thank You for what You have done in the past to draw people to Yourself. I give you thanks for awakening sleeping churches and calling generations of believers to cry out to You for the lost. Do it again, Lord! Hear the prayers of Your people, and give me a deep desire to see another nationwide spiritual awakening that leads to millions of salvations.
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise the Lord Jesus, who will be “revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thess. 1:7).
- Thank him that he will come to restore justice and righteousness in the earth.
- Confess the times when you have not lived in awareness of Christ’s coming again in power and judgment.
- Ask him to help you desire and look forward to his coming, and commit yourself to preparing yourself and others for “the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (1:10).
- Ask the Spirit to give the churches in your community a sense of urgency in bringing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection to the unchurched and unbelieving in their neighborhoods.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Upper Room: Broken Crayons
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. - Psalm 51:17 (NRSVUE)
At the end of each school year, my mom would put all the broken crayons from the classroom in a container for me to use at home. I never liked broken crayons, but those broken crayons still colored.
My granddaughter, Arianna, is an artist. For a project, she once took brand-new packs of crayons and broke them on purpose into different lengths. She then carefully arranged the pieces on a piece of wood until a picture emerged: a child’s hand and an adult’s joined together with a butterfly hovering above them. The beauty of the colors and the amount of work that went into the piece of art are apparent to all who view it.
God wants to make us new — to transform us. Even when we feel broken and useless, God still has a purpose for us. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he urged them to offer their “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” and to “not be conformed to this age, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” Just as broken crayons still color and can be repurposed into something beautiful, God can transform and redeem our brokenness.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for helping us to find new purpose even when we are broken. Transform us so that we may serve you well. Amen.Our Daily Bread
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A pair of eagles built a giant nest in a tree a few miles away from my house. Before long, the enormous birds had eaglets. They cared for their hatchlings together until one of the adult eagles was tragically struck and killed by a car. For several days, the surviving eagle flew up and down a nearby river, as if searching for the lost mate. Finally, the eagle returned to the nest and assumed the full responsibility of raising the offspring.
In any situation, single parenting can be challenging. The delight a child brings combined with possible financial and emotional pressure can create a broad range of experiences. But there’s hope for those who have this important role, and for anyone trying to manage a situation that feels overwhelming.
God is with us when we feel exhausted and discouraged. Because He’s omnipotent—all powerful—and doesn’t change, His strength won’t ever expire. We can trust what the Bible says: “Those who hope in [Him] will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Coming up against our own limits won’t determine what happens to us because we can depend on God to supernaturally recharge us. Hoping in Him allows us to walk and not faint, and to “soar on wings like eagles” (v. 31).
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
REFLECT & PRAY
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What feels overwhelming in your life? How might God be encouraging you to rely on His strength?
Dear heavenly Father, I can’t manage this life on my own. I need You. Please give me Your supernatural strength today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Isaiah 40:30-31 includes three classifications of people. “Youths” refers to children into the teenage years. They’re often bundles of energy and vigor. But—naturally speaking—sooner or later, they wear out. The term “young men” refers to those in the prime of life, but they also have limitations. The third category is a spiritual category that’s not defined by age, stage, or other human metrics: “those who hope in the Lord.” Such are candidates for strength of a different kind—supernatural spiritual strength. It enables them to do through God what they can’t do on their own: “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Those who put their trust in Him are candidates for Godlike spiritual strength. Like Him, in whom they trust, they “will not grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28).
Arthur Jackson |
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TWFYT:
CS
Shalom! God loves you and has great plans for you! Rejoice!
Saturday, July 20 2024
Rita's Gathering moved to next Wed. the 24th at 6.
Good Morning Seeking, Listening, Processing, Following Jesus, Friends! I am running a bit behind today and am writing this before I have engaged with our devotionals for today. I had a zoom huddle with pastors this morning from 6-7:30 and did not rise early enough to have my quiet time before. God was speaking in our huddle as we shared some things God may be revealing, reasoned together, and prayed for each other and for God to lead and His will to be done. I'd love to start some small groups with some of you. Is God stirring you to that? Talk to me and let's try it! Pray for God to bring alive and raise up a prayer movement in our building and some homes. What might He be leading you to host or be part of? Pray into that and talk to Sarah and me about participating in some prayer activities. God is speaking and has some great plans for you and us to discover, process, pray into, plan and then do. What might they be? Share your thoughts with us or others.
I'm just starting with the Harvest Prayer blogs for today. That is a great starting point. I will just list our other devos below that and allow you to process with God and maybe some others. What's God saying to you and what might you do about it? Be who you are created to be and do what you are created to do for such a time as this as you live and love more like Jesus! What's your part in God's plan? Pray! Prepare! DO IT! Daylight's burning! Who are your co-laborers?
This is the day the Lord has made! Rejoice and be glad in it! Seek first His Kingdom. Don't lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your steps. Pay attention. Listen. Watch. Process with some friends. Plan. Go live and love more like Jesus! You were created for such a time as this! Enjoy! I'm praying for you!
Harvest:
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July 17 - Hearing God in His Word
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The first step toward learning to hear God speak is to spend time with Him. Make sure you are reading Scripture, meditating on it, and spending time with God in prayer—both speaking to Him and listening. You will develop your sense of hearing as you use it.
While I did say that God speaks today—and I believe He will speak even when you are not sitting with an open Bible in your lap—I also believe the primary place He does speak is through Scripture. You will most likely first develop your ear for His voice as you read the Bible. A verse will stand out to you. As you meditate upon it (think about it), you may hear “you need to apply that to _____________ situation,” and your mind begins to think about the situation with clarity. That was God’s voice.
You also need to be reading Scripture to put God’s Word in your heart. The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). A little later in the chapter he wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (verse 105). If you are practicing listening and want to hear God’s voice, you must be reading and memorizing Scripture constantly. The reason? What God says to you will never violate Scripture. For example, if you were having trouble in your marriage, God’s voice would never tell you it’s okay to have an affair with someone else or to divorce your wife. That “word” clearly is opposite of what Scripture says about adultery and divorce. That voice is simply your own flesh talking—or Satan. The more you know Scripture, the easier you can quickly dismiss outside voices as not being from God.
Lord Jesus, You were the word in the beginning of creation and who was made flesh! Thank You that I can trust every word in the Scriptures, and know that You will speak to me through them. Help me to desire to plant Your word deep into my heart, so that it will come to me in the night, when I’m praying for others, when I need encouragement, and so many other reasons! Your word is definitely a lamp to my feet and a light for my path!
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Give praise to the one by whom all things were created, the one in whom all things hold together, the head of the church (Col. 1:16-18).
- Thank God for giving direction and purpose to your life in this day.
- Confess those times in the past few weeks when you’ve tried to take over the direction of your life.
- Commit yourself completely to Christ’s leadership in this week.
- Ask him to help you find the time to listen for his voice at the beginning of each day.
- Intercede for the leaders in your congregation, that they may find the wisdom and courage to follow Christ’s plan for your church without hesitating.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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UR: The Power of Salt
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? - Matthew 5:13 (NRSVUE)
My wife was away leading a retreat, and I was at home alone. I decided to cook myself a fairly simple meal with what we had on hand: chicken, rice, some spices — a lot of spices, actually. As I smelled it cooking, I just knew that it was going to be delicious. I spooned the meal into a bowl, took a bite, and it was one of the blandest things I had ever tasted. Maybe I should have used more spices? Then it occurred to me that I hadn’t used any salt. I shook just a little bit in, mixed it all together, and tried another bite. That second bite exploded with flavor!
Salt has a flavor of its own, but what makes salt so special is how it amplifies the other flavors of our food. A little bit of salt can bring out flavors that otherwise we would miss.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowd, “You are the salt of the earth.” Being salt means that we are called to amplify what God is doing in the world. We each have our own flavor — our own unique personality, calling, and ministries. But what makes us salt is our ability to find out what God is doing in our communities and enhance it.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Almighty God, you call us to be salt. Help us to see you at work in this world, and guide us to be a part of your work. In Christ’s name. Amen.
ODB:
Two grandmothers from Texas became media sensations recently for completing a journey around the world in eighty days at the age of eighty-one. The globetrotting best friends of twenty-three years traveled to all seven continents. They started in Antarctica, tangoed in Argentina, rode camels in Egypt, and took a sleigh ride while at the North Pole. They visited eighteen countries including Zambia, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Japan, and Italy and ended their trip in Australia. The duo said they hoped they’d inspired future generations to enjoy traveling the world, regardless of their age.
In Exodus, we read about two octogenarians who were recruited by God for a different kind of adventure of a lifetime. He called Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand he free God’s people from bondage. God sent Moses’ older brother Aaron for support. “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:7).
This request would feel daunting at any age, but God had handpicked these brothers for this assignment, and they followed His instructions. “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded” (v. 10).
Moses and Aaron had the honor of witnessing God deliver His people from more than four hundred years of slavery. These men demonstrate that He can use us at any age. Whether we’re young or older, let’s follow Him wherever He leads.
By Nancy Gavilanes
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How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? How can you serve Him in this season?
Dear God, please help me to follow You all the days of my life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
God uses people at all ages. Moses lived to be 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:7). Both Joshua and Caleb were in their mid-eighties when they led their people to conquer the promised land (Joshua 14:7-12). The gospel historian Luke tells of Simeon, who tradition says was a prophet, and the prophetess Anna, who waited expectantly for the Messiah. They were privileged to see the baby Jesus when He was forty days old (Luke 2:22-38; see Leviticus 12:1-8). At the age of eighty-four, Anna was telling others about the Savior (vv. 37-38).
K. T. Sim |
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CS:
TWFYT:
Saturday, July 20 2024
***IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!!
Rita's night now moved to next Wed. July 24th at 6.
Sorry about the confusion! With the excessive heat warnings and the very real threat for severe and flooding rains I do not want to chance gathering this Wed. God has given us His mind for a reason! Besides we might not encounter many other fools out in the weather! :)
I forged ahead and wanted to try Thurs this week because of promised better weather. However, I neglected to run that by some of you. Sorry! I found out the reason that we meet on Wednesdays is because that's the day most of you are available to meet. Several of you are not available this Thursday. So, we will try again next week. Long range forecast looks cooler and promising. Since Rita's has no indoor place, if it rains we will move to the Creamery near The Way to Emmaus store.
Pray for Jesus to come get Harry Hebig soon! Harry has been ready for a long time to step into Jesus' arms. He didn't recognize me yesterday and continues to linger in hospice. Pray for peace for His family and for God to receive his spirit soon.
Pray for the family of Kayla Reinhardt, the 34 year old mother that passed at Grandview. They held a beautiful memorial yesterday. Pray for peace and strength for the family, for provision and for her son, 13 year old Austin.
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Good Morning Praying Friends! Thanks for your patience with me and for covering Karen and me and Sarah, Mike and all our leaders in prayer! We need and feel the powerful effect of those prayers! Thank you! Please continue!
God had me on one track with some of our devos and then led to another track. I will just post our devos below for those who will use them to pray and connect to God. He has great plans for you and is speaking to your heart! Seek, listen and receive!
Then God led me to the reminder to encourage you to pray for me and us. Everything of value in the Kingdom is birthed and sustained, covered and protected, guided and provided for through prayer. Your prayers are powerful and effective! Amen! Pray for us to become a House of Prayer for the Nations and for wisdom and direction to begin some prayer opportunities for us to gather and pray more together.
Today I am using Dave Butt's blog on a praying pastor to remind you and our leaders about the power of a praying leader and to help you understand how I pray for you and us and God's desire for us to become a house of prayer for the nations. Prayerfully engage with it. I am also including a prayer guide that was given to me by someone who gets bread from us...maybe it was an angel because I cannot find her in the past 9 months since she gave it to me. I use this daily to pray for me, Sarah, Mike and our leaders. Hope you find it useful to guide your daily prayers for us. We really need those! Thanks!
OK, I've gotta get out and bring some living water to our gardens. Our devos are sorta about that and trusting God to protect and use us as we go bringing His Good News alive and sprinkling His Living Water over this dry and weary land in prayer and actions. Be still and know, Trust and go live and love more like Jesus! Amen!
Dave Butts
The Transforming Power of Pastoral Prayer
by Dave Butts
I often hear pastors speak of their desire to have a church that prays more. I certainly understand and appreciate that desire. A praying church is a powerful church in so many ways. While there are many things that can be done to help a congregation grow in prayer, I believe the first and easiest step concerns the prayer life of the pastor(s).
A praying pastor can become an amazing influence toward the church becoming a house of prayer. Let me focus today on two of the many reasons why this is so critical. The first has to do with the power of prayer itself.
When pastors, who are already in a place of spiritual authority and influence, begin to pray solid, biblical prayers for their congregations, they are lining up with the will of God. The will of God in such matters is not a mystery. God wants His church to be a house of prayer. When the pastor prays for the church to become a praying church, he is not trying to talk God into doing something He doesn’t already want to do. Because of what Scripture tells us, we must believe that prayer is powerful when we pray in accordance with the will of God.
In a real sense, when a spiritual leader begins to pray for those for whom he has responsibility, he operates as a priest before the Lord. He stands in a place of effective prayer between the congregation and God. God has committed to hear his prayers. Pastors who persistently pray biblical prayers for their congregation to become a house of prayer will begin to see significant changes in the prayer lives of their people.
Pastors who pray kingdom-focused pastoral prayers over their congregations from the platform/pulpit encourage and teach their people to pray! A pastor should spend significant time privately praying and growing in intimacy with the Father. But there must also be times when the congregation hears their pastor pray out loud in a public setting. People learn much about how to pray from hearing others pray, especially their pastors!
I have spent a lot of time reading the epistles of Paul. Over and over again I heard Paul praying for the Church. I put myself in the place of those early Christians and I realized how they learned to pray. They listened to their spiritual leader. Paul poured out his heart, privately and publicly for his people. They didn’t so much need sermons or lessons on prayer. They could just listen to Paul pray for them and found they could pray as he prayed.
One of my concerns for the Church today is the absence of the pastoral prayer and pastoral leadership in prayer. How will we know our pastors are praying for us if we do not hear them praying publicly? How can we learn from their lives of prayer if we do not hear regular, powerful, biblical prayers coming from them week after week?
My preacher for the first thirteen years of life was Neil Kuns. I know Neil preached good sermons but I confess that I don’t really remember them. What stands out in my mind was Neil’s pastoral prayers. Oh, I was a normal kid and I remember thinking about how long some of those prayers were and shuffling about as we stood for the prayer. But through the years, what has emerged from my memory is having a pastor who prayed for us. My life was and continues to be impacted by those prayers.
Pastors, if you will examine your own life of prayer and commit to allowing God to transform you by spending much time in His presence, you will be a person your congregation wishes to emulate in prayer. If you will begin to pray over your people, model prayer publically, and equip your people to pray, they will learn to become a praying people…and you will see your church on a journey toward being transformed into a house of prayer for all nations.
Pray for pastors and leaders guide:
Harvest Blog:
July 16 - It Never Hurts to Ask
There are only two verses in the Bible about the man named Jabez, but they are recorded for a very important reason.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
Recently I helped one of my kids and their family move. I was driving back from Austin, Texas, to Little Rock, Arkansas, pulling a 32' travel trailer. If you've done this, you know a Texas wind is not your friend.
I was hit, for about the tenth time, with a gust of wind south of Texarkana, Texas, that almost knocked me off the road. If a car had been in the lane next to me, we would have disastrously collided. I looked over to see a flagpole, and the flags were flying parallel to the ground. After multiple days of work, great tiredness, semi-trucks all around, and construction zones every few miles, I was gripping the wheel.
As I stopped for gas, I asked the Lord, "Father, I know you don't have to do this, but could you let the wind die down, or, if not, just keep my trailer from being so hard to handle, I would be so grateful. But, as always, glorify Your name!" Simple prayer from a son to His Dad.
I got back in the truck and passed another flagpole. The flag was lying limp on the pole. No wind. Smooth ride home.
I thanked Him. I wouldn't have blamed Him if he had not answered that prayer, for I know His judgment is better than mine. He might have had purposes for His wind that were bigger than my comfort. But I was so grateful. Apparently, the way He would be most glorified in that moment was to quell the wind.
Abba Father, You are the God of the wind and the waves! You are the One who cares about even the smallest of my needs. Thank You for showing me each day how much You love and care for me, and for being a God who answers prayer. Forgive me for failing to ask in times of need when I think my “ask” is too small, or not important enough for You to answer. I know that I miss some amazing answers to prayer when I don’t believe You for all of my needs. Thank You for being the God who hears and answers…but most of all, for being the God who loves me more than I could ever think or imagine!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
Prayer Points
• In your heart sing to the Lord, your strength and song; praise the one who has become your salvation.
• Give thanks that with joy you can draw water from the wells of salvation (Isa. 12:2-3).
• Confess that your worship is sometimes lacking because you don’t always remember the greatness of your salvation.
• Commit yourself to worshiping and singing with your whole heart; ask God to make you awake and alive to the power of his Word and the joy of music.
• Pray for families with young children and teenagers, that the children may feel a sense of participation in worship this week and of belonging to the body of Christ.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here.
For more than two centuries, the hymn placed first in the Methodist hymnbook was “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” Written by Charles Wesley and originally titled “For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion,” the song was composed to commemorate the radical renewal sparked by his faith in Jesus. It has eighteen stanzas proclaiming the glory of God’s goodness to those who repent and follow Christ.
Such faith is worth celebrating—and worth sharing. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul encourages Timothy to remain steadfast in his faith and to persevere in sharing it. He noted, “This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal” (vv. 8-9). Rather than second-guess his choices, Paul reminds Timothy to remember the good-news message: “Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David” (v. 8), came not to rule but to serve and ultimately to die for the sins of the world so that we may have peace with God. Death didn’t win. Jesus rose from the grave.
And just as it set free those who believe, the message itself isn’t bound. “God’s word is not chained,” said Paul (v. 9), not even from places where death seems to have won: prison cells, hospital beds, gravesides. In Christ, there’s hope for all people. That’s news worth celebrating!
By Matt Lucas
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How do you celebrate the good news of Jesus in your daily life? Whom can you share this good news with?
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
As Paul states in today’s text, he’s suffering in chains for his commitment to the gospel of the risen Christ. Yet he endures those things on behalf “of the elect”—those who haven’t yet received the message of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:10). Yet, even in chains, the apostle’s heart seems filled with hope, seeing death as the pathway to true life (v. 11). All his hope is rooted in one overriding principle—the faithfulness of God. He’s faithful to keep His promises always and perfectly (v. 13). Even though Paul is restricted and chained, he has confidence that nothing can chain the gospel (v. 9), and it will accomplish its good work in the hearts and minds of people who hear it. As you get deeper into 2 Timothy, it becomes clear just how powerful Paul’s hope is, for not only is he in chains, he’s facing imminent death (4:6).
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Living Love
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. - Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
For several years I’ve been collecting heart-shaped rocks. It began on a vacation in Joshua Tree, California. My husband and I were rock climbing; at one particularly difficult spot, I was feeling anxious and afraid as I stood belaying him. Then I happened to notice a heart-shaped rock near where I was standing. Immediately, I felt a sense of peace come over me. It was as if God had tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Do not fear; I am with you!” I smiled and whispered, “I love you too, Lord.”
Since that day I have found hundreds of hearts scattered in nature: leaves, rocks, moss, tree trunks, and even markings on vegetables in our garden. God surrounds us with love and leaves us signs of this great love everywhere. We just have to pay attention.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for filling the earth with your unfailing love. The signs of your love for us are everywhere. Help us to notice them and be reminded that you are always with us. Amen.
CS;
TWFYT:
Saturday, July 20 2024
RITA'S UPDATE: Due to severe storms and heat threat on Wed afternoon. We will move our Rita's night to THURSDAY the 18th at 6. Please spread the word!!!
Good Morning God's Good News Delivery Company Faithful Servants! Amen! May that be so Lord! May we be Your faithful servants that follow Jesus and bring the Good News alive to those You are sending us to. Open hearts! Move our feet. Bring revival! Amen!
We will have the opportunity to practice some of this on Thursday when we gather at Rita's. Pray for us and for God to send some new people to connect to. Pray for wisdom, boldness, and God's heart and mind over us. Today's devotionals speak into being bearers of Good News. Check them out below and process them with some friends. Pray for God to lead us to prayer and small group ministry as we open doors in prayer and process and plan God's plans to go and make disciples. What's your part? What are you doing to prepare? God has some custom plans just for you and for us together for such a time as this! Amen!
What's your story to share about being one way and now another that God orchestrated and led you through? Think about that. We all have a story and as God draws people, He will lead you to someone that needs to hear that story. What is God doing in through and around our Body that others need to be invited to come and see and experience? God places people in our paths for us to be His vessels of Good News, love, healing and hope like He does at our donut days. Watch for Him to be at work and pray to be ready and willing to allow Him to use you in those moments. Remember that the Holy Spirit will stir you and give you the words. He is preparing and empowering you to use the gifts and stories God has given you. PTL! All He asks is for us to be observant and to do what He created us to do. We are sent to be His Good News Delivery people and we are learning how to do that. As we faithfully follow Jesus, He will use us and grow His Kingdom and our fellowship. Amen!
I'm starting with our handout from last week. The photo of the delivery person didn't copy but is attached at the bottom. Think about that delivery person as you. You are driven by love, peace, hope, joy and the desire to bring these and Good News to others and you prepare the way in prayer. Prov. 3:5-6 steer us as we die to self and our own thinking and allow God control. We pray for people to be open and for God to send us. We put on the shoes that carry the GN and are feet are blessed by God as we step out in faith and bring all these to the ones God is preparing. God protects us and the Holy Spirit speaks through us as we step out in faith. All of this flows from Jesus' easy yoke that has been prepared just for you, as you are and according to God's custom purposes for you in His GN delivery co. for such a time as this. PTL! Please pray into all of this! Talk to God about it. Process with some others and follow Him well and with some friends. Pray for all of this to come alive Thurs and for us to have much to praise God about and build upon from this experience. He does have great plans! Step out in faith and pray His will and plans to come alive.
Chares Stanley reminds us of our personal commissions. We all have a purpose in God's GNDC (Good News Delivery Co.) He will lead you to His perfect plans. Our Daily bread reminds us to be devoted to prayer as part of God's GNDC. Some of you have prayer warrior and intercessor as your part. Even as you join together at Rita's or other gatherings, if you see God using one of us to talk to others, start praying for them and for God to draw and use well the one sharing. Pray for God to lead us to prayer gatherings too that prepare the way and plow the hard soil around us. The Word for You Today reminds us to fear not and to be anchored by the presence of God. Yes stand firm as you go. Allow Him to steer. The Upper Room reminds us to breathe out the junk and to love like Jesus, even our enemies. There is too much hate and finger pointing going on around us. Pray that we would be different and love like Jesus and bring love, peace, hope and joy alive as we go and that would attract those He is sending our way. One thing I am constantly praying about and working on is dying to self and my own thinking and to be quick to take every thought, word, type and action captive before the Lord. Pray for that and try to work on it as often we will find ourselves wanting to attack instead of love on someone that God loves. Breathe out the junk and turn off the noise. Tune into the Holy Spirit and follow well. This all takes practice and we start Thurs. at Rita's, maybe even today for you. Go! Live and love like Jesus! He has great plans for you to be His vessel of healing, hope, love, peace and joy! Amen! Be a joy bringer and GNDC worker that God created you to be. Shalom!
Revival: My Part
Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6
Revival: A spiritual reawakening that can occur in a believer's life when they've become stagnant or dormant. It can involve a renewed love for God, a deeper appreciation of God's holiness, and a passion for God's word and church. Revival can also include a sense of humility, a desire for repentance, and a fresh start in living a life that obeys God.
We are God’s Good News Delivery Co. (Revivalists of God!)
Our Mission:
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20
Our Motivating Purpose:
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”… So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Ro 10:13-17
Our Guiding Principle:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Prov 3:5-6
Our Church:
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42
God’s Good News
Delivery Co.
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My part in God’s story is______________________________________________________
ODB:
“I’ve been praying for you for fifty years,” said the elderly woman. My friend Lou looked into her eyes with profound gratitude. He was visiting the Bulgarian village that his father grew up in and left as a teenager. The woman, a believer in Jesus, lived next to his grandparents. She began to pray for Lou as soon as she heard about his birth a continent away. Now, over half a century later, he was visiting the village on a business trip, and while there he spoke to a group about his faith. Lou hadn’t become a believer in Jesus until he was almost thirty, and when this woman approached him after he spoke, he wondered about the impact her persistent prayers had made on his coming to faith.
We’ll never know the full effect of our prayers this side of heaven. But Scripture gives us this counsel: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). When Paul penned those words to believers in the small city of Colossae, he also asked for prayer himself so that God would “open a door” for his message wherever he went (v. 3).
Sometimes we may think, I don’t have the spiritual gift of prayer. But of all the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible, prayer isn’t among them. Perhaps this is because God longs for each of us to pray faithfully, so that we may see what only He can do.
By James Banks
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How have you benefited from the prayers of others? Whom are you praying for today?
Father, thank You that You want to hear from me! Please help me to treasure the opportunity to talk to You and pray for others each day.
Hear more of James Banks' teachings on prayer.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul closes his letter to the church in Colossae encouraging the believers in Jesus to “devote [themselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Bible scholar N. T. Wright makes this comment: “The connection here with thanksgiving may suggest the threefold rhythm: intercession, ‘watching’ for answers to prayer, and thanksgiving when answers appear.” In addition to prayers for their own lives and the lives of those around them, Paul asks for prayers for himself and his fellow servants that the doors for their message may be opened and that they’d proclaim the message of Christ (vv. 3-4). Finally, the apostle reassures the Colossians of how loved they are by reminding them that Epaphras “is always wrestling in prayer for you” (v. 12).
J.R. Hudberg |
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TWFYT:
UR: A Moment to Breathe
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. - Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)
Soon after my father died, I was cleaning out his garage and realized some of his tools had gone missing. I immediately suspected that my two troublesome siblings had sold them to buy drugs and alcohol. I cried out in frustration and anger, “How could they disrespect my father’s memory like that?” I wanted to retaliate against them. I cried, feeling helpless and weak.
Then I remembered the words from today’s quoted scripture, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” And as I took a deep breath, I recited these words from Isaiah: “I am with you” (41:10).
God gave me a moment to breathe and helped me turn my thoughts away from doing something I would regret. From that experience I learned that in all situations taking a minute to breathe can help us to make good and sound decisions. God hears us and protects us even when we have lost hope. In our sorrows and in our happiness, the Lord our God is always present.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us always to trust in you to guide us, especially when fear and anger threaten to overpower us. Amen.
Saturday, July 20 2024
Good Morning Gathered and Sent Disciples and Apostles of Jesus! AMEN! We are placed here and gathered to worship and be taught by Jesus. And He has sent us with His authority to share Good News, make disciple making disciples as we model and teach how to walk in Jesus' way. We are created, gifted and empowered for such a time as this to be all we are created to be and do. And we get to do this together and with Jesus leading us. How cool is that easy yoke! be you and Christ and allow Him to lead you to His best plans. We are His Good News Delivery Co. sent to bless many! Check out our devos about this below. Pray for our outreach on Wed. at 6 at Rita's (or the Creamery) and come be you and love like Jesus. Pray for new connection points and for us to step out in faith and invite God to use us well. Amen!
Shortly we will be studying Ephesians 1 as we gather to worship and study the Apostle Paul's teaching, to fellowship and to pray. All we need to do is eat together to be fully an Acts 2:42 church. And we will do that Wed. and once the AC is installed. God is using and growing us. PTL! Let us commit to follow well and help each other as we seek to go and make disciples and grow as disciples. Amen! See you soon! Shalom!
CS:
UR: The Hills
I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2 (NRSVUE)
I spent many of my early years in the American Midwest. Some consider Midwestern states flyover country, but this does not accurately depict the land or its rich resources. The Midwest has beautiful prairie grasslands, abundant wildlife, meandering rivers, and fields of corn, soybeans, and wheat. In addition, the region is not all flat. There are varied and fascinating hills in the Midwest — bluffs overlooking a river, hills of tall grasses and wildflowers, sand dunes, and rugged rock formations.
Though the hills in the Midwest are not huge, each has its own richness and striking beauty. When I stand at the foot of these hills, they seem close and reachable. This reminds me that when I look to the Lord, it is like looking to the hills, for the Lord is close and within reach.
Whenever I am in need of help, I often think of the hills. I lift my eyes to the Lord and recognize that the Lord is the source of my help. No matter where we are, if we are in need, the Lord is near. We can always look up to the Lord, who watches over us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Maker of heaven and earth, we know that our help comes from you. Watch over us and guide us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.ODB:
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Dr. Tiffany Gholson had seen crime impact her small American city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, in many ways. By 2023, however, the town recorded a 31 percent drop in homicides and a 37 percent drop in crime overall. What happened? A partnership. Working together, the city’s Public Safety Enforcement Group—including the state and city police, the city school district, and a faith organization—combined efforts to turn the tide for all citizens.
“We say it’s a marriage,” Dr. Gholson stated, with all members of the city partnership joining in to help citizens. The school district’s Wraparound Wellness Center, which she leads, involves school social workers, nurses, and staff to support kids impacted by crime or accidents. Other agencies share their strengths. Police commit to talk more with people on the street—and listen.
The psalmist David wrote, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). “Harmony,” David added, “is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon” (v. 3 nlt). David was referring to people who share a unifying faith in God. Rather than divided by doctrines or politics, we are one. The concept may feel elusive, yet it blesses all. It’s a beautiful goal for believers to show concern for one another—especially in our cities desperately in need of the love of Jesus.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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Where do you see a lack of unity? How might God be prompting you to promote unity by living out your faith?
Father, please help me by the power of Your Spirit to work for unity in my community.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Unity is a theme found throughout the Bible. In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He asked that all believers in Christ “be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23). He knew believers would require God’s help to keep them unified in the face of quarrels, controversy, and persecution, and their witness of Him would be hampered by disunity. The apostle Paul called believers to “stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1). This is best accomplished when the church is unified. It requires “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” forgiveness, and above all “love, which binds [us] all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14). Unity is embodied when individuals in the church use their spiritual gifts and abilities to benefit the whole (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
Alyson Kieda |
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TWFYT:
Harvest
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July 14 - Jesus Wants To Be Known
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At the appointed time of 30 years old, Jesus revealed Himself and His ministry. He healed. He forgave. He understood people’s hearts. He knew their thoughts. He responded to faith. He was the Son of Man. He was God. Yet, this list merely scratches the surface of His identity. In Matthew 9:2, 4-6 Jesus says, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” ... “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” ... “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”
Jesus heals and forgives. We can seek Him as our safe place. No matter what we’ve done, we can approach Him with sincerity of heart and receive forgiveness and reconciliation. And yet, Healer and Forgiver are only two aspects of who He is. He is so much more.
Lord, I desire to know You fully. Show me how to know, pursue, and draw closer to You. Forgive me for not taking our relationship seriously. I repent. Take me to the next level of understanding about who You are and how You operate.
You have incredible authority, including healing and forgiving sins. Reveal the fullness of Your authority and the authority You granted to me. I declare that godly fear will overtake me so I can be wise. I desire godly love to fill me so I may be like You. I desire Godly zeal to characterize me, so I take nothing for granted, and I dedicate my time on earth to Your will.
I’m thankful that You desire to lead me, Lord, on Your righteous path so all my days glorify You. I’m thankful You will answer my plea to fully know and experience You.
I praise You that I’m fully known to You. You know every thought, every impulse, and You still love me.
--Adapted from Praying What Jesus Says by Natasha Miller. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for his marvelous goodness.
- Thank the Lord for being a refuge in times of trouble (Nah. 1:7).
- Confess your own failure to show goodness toward others.
- Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of goodness through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to enable you today to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8).
- Pray that good will win out over evil in every area of our society.
- Ask that righteousness and justice will permeate the fabric of our culture so that God will be glorified and praised.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Worship tomorrow 10am live in person in our air conditioned sanctuary and on Zoom from the comfort of your home! Join us and invite some friends!
*Start reading Ephesians chapter 1 as we begin our trek through some of the Apostle Paul's letters to the early church. Ask God to speak to you as you read. Record what He's saying or any questions and come prepared to study how the early church learned to follow God and not lean on their own thinking or ideas.
Don't forget our gathering at Rita's Wed at 6. Be ready to move to the creamery across from Weis in the event that the expected bad weather comes. Let's put on the St Matts T shirts and go shine bright while enjoying some fellowship and cool treats! (That's putting on Jesus' easy yoke too!)
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Good Morning Patient, Worshiping, Followers of the God Who Leads Us! AMEN! This salutation flows right from our devotionals for today (below). Prayerfully meditate on them and notice how our God who speaks brings His Living Word alive and threads it through His plans for us. What's He saying to you? What's He have planned for you? Who are your processing, planning, going partners? I believe God is opening some doors for you, me, and us together. Seek first His Kingdom. Die to self, take up cross and crucify your own thinking and ways and commit to don Jesus' easy yoke and follow well and with some friends. I am amazed at how God is bringing the reality of His easy yoke alive to us! Thanks Lord! His easy yoke is stepping more fully into who you are created to be and doing the things He created you to do with Him and some friends for such a time as this. It's easy because it's made just for you at whatever season of life or circumstances you are journeying through too. It just flows naturally from who you are in Christ and brings such joy and many blessings to God, others and yourself as you follow Jesus and run your race. Thank God for this and ask Him to continue to lead you to His greater things as He grows you to be more like Jesus.
You know as I continue to sit at Jesus' feet and receive and process, it becomes very apparent that He does have some great plans for me, for some of you and for us together. He is informing, hearing and answering prayers and bringing His plans to life as He begins opening the new doors for us to discover and step through in faith. Can any of you perceive that? Is He giving you some ideas or stirring you to pray into something or process and plan with some others? Wherever God guides, He provides. Amen! Often that provision comes as we step boldly through an open door in faith and pray His provision into existence with our mustard seed sized faith. Those of you called to pray as part of your role in our Good News Delivery Co. please get at it and pray we see the open doors and step through in faith and for God's provision to come as we go. Some of you are called to step through some new door opened just for you. Do it! Some of you are called and prepared to lead us through an open door. Do it! Some of you are to remind us that some doors are closing and to refocus. Do it! We all have our custom made purposes and we need each other to process, pray, plan and go in God's power. Let us do that together earnestly! I am convinced that is why God wants us to Become More in '24 and Do More in '24 and become more like Jesus as we go. What's He revealing to you to work on, pray about and/or encourage others to do? Are you His provision for the things beyond those new doors? What's His easy yoke for you and for us as a Body?
Check out TWFYT about open doors. Then meditate on ODB reminder to begin with worship and prayer before we go. I have some ideas of things I believe God is planning for me and us that need patience and prayer before we go. I am reminded of Caesar K's teaching about slow is fast and small is big in God's Kingdom ways. I often pray for myself to remember this and wait on the Lord and also pray that I don't miss Him moving and neglect joining Him and also, that I stop banging my head against the closed doors. Be still and know is followed by process and go in God's perfect timing. The UR carries on the theme of patient waiting. But waiting does not mean doing nothing. It's abiding in the Lord, worshiping, discerning, praying, preparing and readying for the good fruit to come when God says go. Where are you in the good fruit production process? Whose helping you prepare, discern, praying for you or whoaing you down as needed? CS reminds us that God is always with us. That's in the waiting, preparing and going--always with us! Amen! God is with you and us. PTL! No matter what we are facing or celebrating, he is there working things together. He is the strength in our weakness and He inhabits our praise and He is with us every step of the way. PTL! How might He want to direct your steps today? What will you do about that? I pray it would be obedient praying, processing, planning and following! Amen.
God is on the move! New doors are opening and some are closing. Keep worshiping, praying, sitting at His feet and patiently following Him! Great things are coming! Rejoice! I am so excited an can't wait to share and process with some of you the things He is planning for me and us! Let us not grow weary or weary ourselves but step into our new nature and God's custom plans more fully as we don Jesus' easy yoke! Amen!
TWFYT:
ODB:
Worship First
They began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid. Ezra 3:6
READ Ezra 3:1-6
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I’d never planned to start a non-profit organization about adult friendship, and when I felt called to do so, I had so many questions. How would the charity be financed, and who should help me build it? My greatest help on these matters ended up coming not from a business book, but a biblical one.
The book of Ezra is essential reading for anyone called by God to build something. Recounting how the Jews rebuilt Jerusalem after their exile, it shows how God provided funds through public donations and government grants (Ezra 1:4-11; 6:8-10), and how both volunteers and contractors did the work (1:5; 3:7). It shows the importance of preparation time, with rebuilding not beginning until the second year of the Jews’ return (3:8). It shows how opposition may come (ch. 4). But one thing in the story particularly stood out to me. A whole year before any building began, the Jews erected the altar (3:1-6). The people worshiped “though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid” (v. 6). Worship came first.
Is God calling you to start something new? Ezra’s principle is poignant whether you’re starting a charity, a Bible study, a creative project, or some new task at work. Even a God-given project can take our attention away from Him, so let’s focus on God first. Before we work, we worship.
By Sheridan Voysey
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why do you think the Jews built the altar first? How could worship fit into your workflow today?
Heavenly Father, I worship You as Lord of all, including the tasks You’ve given me to do today.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The book of Ezra is one of the post-exilic books in the Old Testament, meaning it recounts events following the exile of Judah to Babylon. After seventy years in captivity, when the people were allowed to return to the land of their forefathers, they found Jerusalem a mere shadow of its former glory. With both the impact of Babylon’s attack and the seven decades of neglect having taken its toll, the city needed to be rebuilt. However, the people also needed to be rebuilt in their relationship with God as His covenant people. Described as a teacher of the law (Ezra 7:6, 10), Ezra reestablished the law of Moses and called the people to worship the God their ancestors had forsaken—which had prompted the exile in the first place. Ezra was also of the priestly line, descending from Seraiah, the last chief priest to serve in Solomon’s temple (2 Kings 25:18).
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Patient Waiting
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. - Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
In the summer before my senior year of high school, I worked as a waitress at an inn in New Hampshire. As I sat on the front porch steps waiting for my father to come for me, the warm sun was peering through the leaves of the tall elms, and the soft breeze gently tousled my hair. I was content to wait patiently.
A guest leaving the inn noticed me and said, “Patience is a virtue.” That encounter has remained with me. I pondered it, realizing that in that moment it was easy to be patient. Waiting on the inn steps, I had no fear that my father would not come for me. I trusted in his concern for me, and I knew he would not abandon me. My father soon came, and I relaxed in the warmth and comfort of his presence.
I have also learned to await patiently the Lord’s direction in my life. Our heavenly Father cares for us, too, and our patience and expectant waiting is never in vain. When we realize that God is in control of our lives, we can release our tensions and frustrations to God. We will never be abandoned.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for always being patient with us. Help us to wait patiently and trust that you will guide us as we await your answer to our concerns. Amen.CS:
Saturday, July 13 2024
Sarah blog below and its' reminder that God is always with us and the call to embrace and remember that always! Keep her in your prayer at the loss of a dear friend and former co-worker and pray for their family
Awesome day of ministry at bread and donut day yesterday! Thank you all who hung out and allowed God to use you! Next one is Wed Aug 14th
Next Wed at 6 we will gather in our St. Matts T-shirts and chill at Rita's Emmaus (if severe weather, we will move to the Creamery (ice cream shop up the street) If you would like to order a T-shirt see Gail L. Ordered shirts are expected Sunday.
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Good Morning Friends!
Please spend some time in our devotionals for today and Sarah's blog. I gotta fly to go visit our granddaughter early today. But God really has threaded all of these through Sarah's blog and is speaking to our hearts today. I have to share that in ODB's passage I saw something I missed before (1 Tim. 1:14 "The grace of the Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love THAT ARE IN CHRIST." do you understand that we are given abundant grace no matter what we face and we are given the faith and love that are in Jesus! WOW! He fills us with His love and gives us His faith. We can wield that to endure whatever we face as we remember Christ is always with us and always working things together for good! AMEN! Charles Stanley reminds of our true identity we get to put on when we are reborn in Christ. The Upper Room reminds us to give God our heavy burdens, don Jesus' easy yoke and travel light. An TWFYT reminds us to trust God and honor Him in all we do. he is worthy!
Meditate on these, journal what God is saying and process with some friends! Have a blessed day! Quote of the day from yesterday< "Your a pastor? Why are you so happy?" Let the world see the joy of the Lord in you today! Surprise them with your love and joy!
ODB:
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I expected eight bananas. Instead, when I opened the grocery bags delivered to my home, I discovered twenty bananas! I quickly realized that my move to England meant I also moved from ordering groceries in pounds to requesting them in kilograms. Instead of three pounds, I had ordered three kilograms (nearly seven pounds!) of bananas.
With such an abundance, I made several batches of a favorite banana bread recipe to share the blessing with others. As I mashed up the fruit, I began thinking about the other areas of my life where I have experienced unexpected abundance—and each path led back to God.
Paul appears to have had a similar experience of reflecting on God’s abundance in his life. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul paused to describe his life before Jesus, describing himself as a “persecutor and a violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13); “the worst of sinners” (v. 16). Into Paul’s brokenness, God lavishly poured out grace, faith, and love (v. 14). After recounting all the abundance in his life, the apostle couldn’t help but express praise to God, declaring Him worthy of all “honor and glory for ever and ever” (v. 17).
Like Paul, we all received an overwhelming abundance of grace when we accepted Jesus’ offer of rescue from sin (v. 15). As we pause to reflect on all the resulting blessings, we’ll find ourselves joining Paul in grateful praise to our generous God.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
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How have you experienced God’s abundance in your life? How will you offer praise to Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming gift of grace.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s self-reflective narrative in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:12-17) interrupts a longer discussion aimed at dealing with corrupt teachers spreading false doctrines in the church. Among the people Timothy is to watch out for are those who “want to be teachers of the law” (v. 7). The apostle explains that the law is good for identifying wrongdoing and bringing wrongdoers to repentance.
And then Paul identifies himself as the worst of them all. Not only does he condemn himself under the law as “a blasphemer . . . and a violent man” (v. 13), he zealously tries to defend that very law (see Acts 9:1-2; Philippians 3:1-6). In a way, the apostle uses his own story to present hope even for those who do wrong in and to the church. They can be redeemed, his own story says, if only by the grace of God. But that grace is more than enough.
Dive into the wisdom Paul offers Timothy and us.
Jed Ostoich |
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CS:
UR: Packing Light
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 (NRSVUE)
On my last vacation, I was going to be out of town less than a week, so I decided to take only a carry-on and a personal item. However, after packing the essentials and many nonessentials, my bags were overstuffed and weighed down, which ultimately placed more stress on me than if I had chosen not to carry the bags.
Emotional baggage, like physical baggage, has the power to weigh us down and cause stress. When we choose to carry more than is necessary, we are telling God that we don’t need help because we can handle it all on our own. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Today’s quoted verse encourages us to bring our burdens to God, while Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” These verses highlight the fact that by handing our burdens to God, we receive strength and rest. Let us give our burdens over to God and accept God’s offer to carry them.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Compassionate God, thank you for lightening our burdens and giving us strength and rest. Give us wisdom to accept your help each day. Amen.TWFYT:
Sarah Blog:
Good evening, everyone,
Have you ever had one of those times when you lost something, and you looked everywhere to find it?
Perhaps it was your keys, wallet, checkbook, a book, the TV remote........
And you couldn't imagine where that item could be - I know of a few people who couldn't find their glasses, only to be told that they were on top of their head. OR perhaps you are looking for your cell phone and later only realize you are talking on it.
But we search all over for that lost item and retrace your steps and places you already looked and the second or possibly the third time, when you are looking, there is the item, right there where you had previously looked.
Each of us probably experience this at least once/twice a week - some of us, perhaps more often. I was thinking how often in our Jesus journey, we experience the same thing......How many times do we have experiences in our lives, situations that arise, difficult moments, health issues - and we ask, "Where is God?" We have a difficult time "Seeing God!"
Many times, we are looking for the bigger picture or perhaps we are having tunnel vision or satan is distracting us, luring our attention away from God and what God is doing in our lives/through our situations.
Satan wants us to focus on what we are able to physically see - whatever is happening right in front of us, pain, troubles, uncertainties, financial stress, unanswered questions.
As God's children we need to work hard every day to follow through with obeying/keeping focus. Hebrews 12:2 says "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends on beginning to end."
Jesus reminds us that no matter what is going on in our lives - in Deuteronomy 31:8 and Hebrews 13:5-6 He promises that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." God promises He is always with us - It's with our physical eyes that we see what's going on around us - BUT GOD....has also given us spiritual eyes - spiritual eyes that help us see/make us aware of the spiritual things that are happening around us but are invisible to our human eyes.
In our world, the big request is usually "Show me the evidence" - we have all grown accustomed to only believing what is right in front of us, what we can physically see. Truth of the matter is - God is always working; working in our circumstances, working to help our finances; working to heal us...
If you and I would believe this, it would help us to maintain our HOPE in Him, and THEN we will SEE; recognize the evidence of His work, in His time, His way!
Joyce Meyer once said, "When I get discouraged because of a problem, I have been praying about, I would say out loud, "GOD IS WORKING"
The bible says if you will believe God is working, even when you don't see it or feel it, then God keeps working.
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Vs 6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God; because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
God is always with us, through whatever we are going through - JOY, Sadness, Difficulty......God is always right there!
May He open our eyes, so we are able to recognize His presence. Try to always walk in the knowledge that God is right beside you and His presence makes you UNSHAKABLE!
May we be able to say "I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me!" Psalm 16:8
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Prayer needs:
Mark Henninger had his cataract surgery and all went well. Continue prayers for healing and patience as he heals
Prayers for the Burke family - I learned today that a friend and coworker of mine, from Goodwill, who just recently retired, we on an Alaskan cruise. Her husband, daughter, grandchild, and herself went white water rafting. A landslide in the river, caused the raft to flip and become lodged. Unfortunately, Debbie's (my friend) injuries were to sever and she did not make it. Her husband, daughter, grandchild and raft guide are in the hospital in serious condition. Please keep this family in your prayers and the Goodwill family as they have learned of this tragic news.
Great time at Coffee, Donuts, Conversation today. 60 people passed through our doors to receive bread. And there were several church family members and bread volunteers there to greet them and share Jesus' love with them.
I believe that is all for now......
Stay cool....keep praying for rain!
Blessings,
Sarah
Harvest:
July 11 - Embrace God’s Purpose
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Jesus knew that He had been sent on purpose by His Father. That He lived on mission. He came to seek and save that which had been lost—the people that the Creator made in His image who had wandered from Him. Christ came to bring them back so their lives would worship and serve their King.
When Christ came to the most significant decision in His earthly life, He did not pray, “God, remove this from Me,” or, “Let me be comfortable,” or, “Save me from this pain.” As He faced the grueling prospect of the cross, the most effective prayer, the one that is always answered was this: "Father, glorify Your name."
God delights to answer this prayer and the results are stunning. This prayer, prayed from a humble, genuine heart, is the prayer that never fails.
Answer my cry, O Lord, in a way that will accomplish Your will, for Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. If it is best for You then it is best for me and any others who may be affected by this prayer. Father, I want You to be magnified and seen in this circumstance. May all that happens ultimately glorify You!
---Adapted from Prayer with No Intermission by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise the one who came as the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).
- Thank Jesus for giving peace to his beloved ones (Jn. 14:27).
- Confess those times when you’ve allowed Satan to fill your soul with unrest.
- Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of peace by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to guard your heart and mind today with his peace (Phil. 4:7).
- Warfare, bloodshed, strife, and turmoil mar every corner of the globe these days. But the good news is that Christ came “to reconcile to himself all things . . . by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). Pray for all those who seek to bring Christ’s reconciliation to a restless world.
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Thank God I'm Forgiven! And for so much more! What are you thankful about today? Tell God and share your joy with others!
I just accidently deleted probably my best blog in a long time. It took almost an hour to write and poof! Gone! Pride goes before the fall, right! Most of it was not from our devos below but they tied to it. meditate on them. Who might you process with?
Most of the blog was about unity with God and each other that comes as we come to Christ. We are one and Jesus prayed we would be the night before the crucifixion. PTL! Ask God for some ideas for us to gather together more often to pray, study, and serve. pray for some small groups to do that with or maybe for your home to become a gathering place. Let us commit to living this life in Christ together well! PTL that He has created us and joined us together for such a time as this. Seek Him and His plans for that.
I prayed for you a lot this morning. God is at work already bringing all things together according to His plans. he's preparing you and us and wanting to shepherd us to His best. Have a blessed day. Turn off the noise. Sit at His feet. Die to self and allow Him to crucify your sins and hindrances and put on Jesus' easy yoke as you follow Him today. Amen!
Shalom!
22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
CS:
UR: A Lesson in Humility
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. - Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
We have an avocado tree on our property. When in season, the tree is so fruitful that our family of seven struggles to eat all the avocados. Often when I travel back to the city, I carry a sack of avocados to share with my friends and workmates.
One evening, almost one hundred avocados were strewn on the ground around the tree, so my dad had invited neighbors to come and collect some.
As I observed the tree and the many people collecting avocados, I gained a new understanding of humility.
The avocado tree is fruitful enough to feed dozens of people, and even though people thank my dad and me for the avocados instead of thanking the tree, it just humbly sways to the rhythm of the wind and blesses us with more fruit.
Our avocado tree reminds me always to be humble, even in success. God promises to bless and exalt each of us and to prepare a table for us, but the Bible reminds us always to stay humble.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, who humbled himself for our sake. Remind us to remain humble like Christ. Amen.
TWFYT:
Harvest:
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July 12 - For God Does Speak
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Unfortunately, many churches today teach that God speaks only through the Bible. That teaching comes out of a fear of excess. Many have seen others abuse authority and power by saying, “God told me that you (or we) should (fill in the blank).” Or they’ve seen people who put as much weight on what they thought they heard God saying to them as they did on Scripture. Both of those criticisms are accurate. People often do both of those things. But you do not throw out something clearly taught in Scripture (the fact that God speaks to His followers) because of a few people’s abuses.
Writing on this topic, prayer leader Timothy Jones comments, “Some Christians conclude that God said all that needed saying 2,000 years ago. He stopped talking much when Jesus ascended and the Bible was compiled. Our listening, they argue, should be confined to what we read in Scripture. Perhaps, they allow, God communicates through ethical principles or a pastor or religious leader. But a specific, personal word? That smacks of mysticism or wishful thinking.”
I am confident in telling you that God does indeed speak today! Both experience and Scripture bear this out. In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (emphasis added). Earlier in that chapter, speaking of natural sheep and the shepherd, Jesus said, “The sheep listen to [the shepherd’s] voice” (verse 3). God told Isaiah “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21, emphasis added). The indication is that communication—through speaking and hearing—will take place between God and His followers. As you grow in your prayer life and learn some listening skills, you will hear God talking to you.
Loving Father, thank You that You are still speaking today! Your voice comes in so many different ways, because You are a creative God! You know just what I need to hear and how I need to hear it, if I will be attentive to Your voice. Teach me to be a good listener so that I can faithfully walk in Your ways.
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for his patience.
- Thank the Lord for being patient with you and allowing you to come to repentance in Christ (2 Pet. 3:9).
- Confess impatience you have felt or expressed toward God or other people.
- Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of patience through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to fill you with his patience.
- Impatience is a hallmark of our me-first society. Pray that the church will have a softening influence, proclaiming and demonstrating a patient “Jesus-first” message. Ask that the church will be patient even in the midst of affliction (Rom. 12:12).
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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Saturday, July 13 2024
Sarah Update below
Good Morning Supple, Adjusting, Faithful Followers of Jesus! He is the Way! He brings the Truth alive! He gives life as we submit to Him. We need to remain supple, moldable, teachable and willing to adjust to what He reveals and what He leads to. Help us Lord! This train of though flows right from our devos for today. What's God revealing to you as you ask Him to search your heart? What are you willing to do about it? Who is praying with you, encouraging you and holding your feet in the fire to do so? God has great custom made plans just for you! Rejoice! Ask Him to help you stay focused on Him, cleansed and ready to follow well, and humble yourself as you trust, correct and obey. He loves you and wants you to choose His best. Do it today! He is our source, strength and help! Turn off the noise and distractions and focus on Him and His will for you! I already prayed for you! Shalom and enjoy this day in the Lord!
ODB: Ask God to do this and receive from Him with an open heart and mind and ask for a willingness and help to adjust to Him!
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To reduce food waste, a supermarket chain in Singapore sells slightly blemished fruits and vegetables at lower prices. In one year, this initiative saved more than 850 tons (778,000 kg) of produce that previously would’ve been thrown out for not meeting aesthetic standards. Shoppers soon learned that outward appearances—scars and quirky shapes—don’t affect flavor and nutritional value. What’s on the outside doesn’t always determine what’s on the inside.
The prophet Samuel learned a similar lesson when he was sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). When he saw Eliab, the firstborn son of Jesse, Samuel thought he was the chosen one. But God said: “Do not consider his appearance or his height . . . . People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). Out of Jesse’s eight sons, God chose the youngest, David—who was tending his father’s sheep (v. 11)—to be the next king.
God is more concerned with our hearts than with outward credentials—the school we attended, what we earn, or how much we volunteer. Jesus taught His disciples to focus on purifying their hearts of selfish and evil thoughts because “what comes out of a person is what defiles them” (Mark 7:20). Just as Samuel learned not to consider outward appearances, may we, with God’s help, examine our hearts—our thoughts and intentions—in all that we do.
By Jasmine Goh
REFLECT & PRAY
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When have you done a “good thing” with the wrong motive? How can you ensure that what’s in your heart is pure?
Dear God, please help me to do what honors You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When David was selected to succeed Saul as king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:8-12), it was because God saw his heart and that it was bent toward Him. David was far from perfect, for the Scriptures describe his failures very clearly. He had a continuing desire to maintain a pure heart before God, however, as expressed in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Bill Crowder |
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CS: Not my will but Yours O Lord!
TWFYT: I can do all things in Christ's strength for when I am weak, He is strong!
UR: Help in Old Age. Choose joy, worship, trust, die to selfyyh and become a joy bringer!
The Lord said, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. - Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
One morning I woke up with a stiff neck and a throbbing headache. I have arthritis in my neck from a past injury that causes occasional headaches, but this one was worse than usual. With my husband away on business and no family living close by, I felt weak and vulnerable. I texted a prayer request to the women in my weekly Bible study. They soon texted back their prayers. One woman, Sarah, called to pray with me over the phone.
One of Sarah’s prayers particularly grabbed my attention: “God, we thank you for the body parts that are working well.” Hearing her words, I realized how often my conversations with friends are dominated by complaints over our aches and ailments. At 68, I sometimes feel like everything in my body is wearing out. I’m ashamed to confess that it hadn’t occurred to me to thank God for the parts that are still working.
When our call ended, I took time to thank God for eyes that can still see sunsets and red roses; for ears that can still hear symphonies and my dog’s delighted squeals; for a mouth that can still taste strawberries and chocolate and fried chicken. Soon, joy replaced my distress as I remembered God’s promise to care for me even as I grow old.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father God, thank you for our wonderful bodies. Thank you for promising to care for us all our days, even as our bodies are aging. Amen.
Harvest prayer starters...choose joy and be a joy bringer!
- Rejoice with the prophet Isaiah, who wrote, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10).
- Thank God for producing such joy in your life.
- Confess any lack of Christian joy. Commit yourself to bearing the fruit of joy through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
- Ask God to fill you with an inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Pet. 1:8).
- Pray for your own expression of joy in the Lord. Do unbelievers recognize it in you? Do they know the source of your joy? Ask God to make your joy genuinely contagious.
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| Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. |
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Sarah Update:
Good morning, everyone,
Received some folks that are in need of our prayers, so passing them on to you, so you are able to start
lifting them up and supporting them through your prayers.
Dean, has asked for prayer for a friend of his - Debra Swisher Rivell - she is having some health issues and is low on oxygen and her red blood cell count is low. May we pray for her healing and the doctors and medical team working with her.
John Chobot has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. May we praying for a miracle of healing and strengthening, also pray for his medical team as they work with John in coming up with the best plan of treatment. Also keep Donna, his wife in your prayers as they go on this journey together, and the rest of his family, Tim and Megan.
Continue to pray for those in our church family that are having medical tests done to find out what is causing their symptoms and/or that are struggling physically and emotionally: Ramon, Marylou, Tracy, Diane
Pray for Larry and Enol and their sons as they wrap up their time here in the states. They will be headed back to the Phillipians next week. Prayers for their son Richard, who is looking at various colleges, praying the Lord's guidance and direction in his life, and may he be open to where God is leading him.
Continue to lift up and check in on one another. If the Lord lays someone on your heart, pause and pray for them.
Stay cool everyone, and don't forget that if you are doing anything, Coffee, Donuts and Conversation are happening TOMORROW, in our Fellowship Hall from 10 - 12pm.....why not come and hang out!!
Blessings,
Sarah
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