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Friday, January 03 2025
Happy New Year! PTL for the promises and opportunities opened up for the year ahead as we walk with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the new things He has prepared for each of us and us together! Amen! May we come alive in '25!
Good Morning Fellow Travelers! Spend some time as we enter into a season of fasting and prayer to empty yourself and invite the Holy Spirit full access to you, your choices, and resolve to follow Jesus. He made you for such a time as this and has great plans for you to discover and step into. he also has great plans for our church as we unite as His Body and allow Him to lead us to His perfect plans for the year ahead. It's a year of promise and faithfulness of God for us to embrace and earnestly pursue. May we commit ourselves, our Church and our choices for the year to God today. May we invite Him to come be our Lord, Shepherd and be determined to follow Him well. Amen!
Many blessings to you and yours for 2025! maybe begin with some time in our devos below! God loves you and has plans to prosper you. Trust Him and invite Him to come have His way! Amen
What's God saying to you and what will you do about it! Let us commit to earnestly follow Him to His best! And may we all know the love, joy and peace we have and have to share! Amen
UR: A New Beginning
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
I glanced out my front window, and the street was quiet. It was just another day. Last night, however, was much different. We heard the whistle and pop of exploding fireworks, the cheers of excited children, and the shouting of jubilant well-wishers ushering in the New Year.
For many, the start of a new year is a time for resolutions, marking a new beginning and starting with a clean slate. We might give up a bad habit, begin a new exercise regimen, eat healthier foods, mend a broken relationship, or improve some other aspect of our daily life. We do this in the hope of having a happier, better, and more fulfilled life.
Every New Year’s Eve reminds me of my own new beginning in 1967 as a young teen. My new beginning wasn’t a resolution to change one or two undesirable traits but complete repentance, and it transformed my life. The Lord Jesus Christ did all the work. I became a new creation. What joy there is in serving Jesus!
While salvation is wonderful, it doesn’t stop there. As Christians we must continue to grow in faith. We must be diligent in reading and following God’s word. Let us be examples to those around us and glorify God with our lives.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to grow in relationship with you. May others see our good works and glorify your name. Amen.Sarah Young
TWFYT
ODB
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Most people have never heard of Kate Hankey, but she was a remarkable woman. A teacher, evangelist, school organizer, missionary, and poet, she faithfully served Jesus in 1800s England. In 1867, Kate contracted a serious illness. During her recovery, she penned a lengthy poem in two parts: “The Story Wanted” and “The Story Told.” The poem expresses in a very personal way her relationship with Jesus and the events of His life.
All Scripture points to Jesus and tells His story. John begins his epistle reminding readers how they had personally experienced Jesus: “That which . . . we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim” (1 John 1:1). Because of our experience of Him, the apostle writes, we’re telling the Jesus story: “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it” (v. 2). Later, John makes the fascinating comment, “The word of God lives in you” (2:14). In other words, the Jesus story is our story too. We’re called to tell the story of Christ in light of our own experience with Him.
This is what Kate Hankey did in her poem. Eventually, the two parts of her poem became these beloved hymns: “I Love to Tell the Story” and “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.” Perhaps we might, like Kate, find our own words and share our Jesus story with others—the unique way in which He loved us, came to us, and rescued us.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
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What is your story with Jesus? How did He come to you and rescue you?
Dear Jesus, thank You for rescuing me and doing Your loving work in my life.
For further study, read Jesus Is in the Room.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Many scholars believe that the apostle John, the author of the gospel of John, also wrote the three letters that bear his name. He wrote 1 John to refute false teachers who taught that Jesus is neither God nor human and points to His incarnation to show His humanity: “[Jesus] was with the Father and has appeared to us” (1:2). John had personally heard, seen, and touched the man Jesus (vv. 1-3), demonstrating that Christ is a real human person.
To prove that Jesus is the preexistent creator God, John begins his letter with the words “that which was from the beginning” (v. 1), echoing Genesis 1:1 (“in the beginning God”) and John 1:1 (“in the beginning was the Word”). Jesus is “the Word of life” (1 John 1:1), who “spoke” life into every living thing (Genesis 1; John 1:1-2). He’s “the eternal life, which was with the Father” and He’s “[God’s] Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:2-3), the promised Messiah.
K. T. Sim |
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Friday, January 03 2025
Sarah Update below
Bread Day today 10-12
Good Morning Worshiping, Thankful, Praying, Faithful, Trusting, Moving Forward, Followers of Jesus! Amen! That is us and we are working on growing into these things earnestly. We are moving from what was through what is to the new things God has in store for us in 2025. We have worked on becoming the people we are created to be and doing more of what we are created to do as we seek to have more of Christ and His ways and less of ours come alive in and through us and we are praying this all comes alive in '25! Please Lord! Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through and around me and us! Amen! So what are your thankful for from this past year and what new things does God have planned for you? Are you willing to step out in faith and trust to receive them and allow Him to bring them alive in '25? Pray into that! Surrender, receive and seek to earnestly follow Him into His perfect plans for you and us! I'm praying for me, you and all of us to seek and follow well. Thanks Lord! come! Have Your way! Amen!
Check out the flow of this through my devotionals below. God laid these out just for me and for some of you as well. Then engage with the links to the Harvest Prayer stuff as we seek to become a House of prayer for the Nations and releasing God's plans and power in prayer in the year ahead. Start with the Upper Room's reminder to be grateful and use those gratitude lists often in praise of God and all He is doing and even to refocus when times are hard or we feel distant from Him. The rest of the devos flow to knowing peace, trusting the hand of God, trusting God's plans for you as He leads to new things we are waiting to come and step into, and then the reminder that we are not in this alone but a team of servants seeking and following together--spurring each other on to the new things God has for us! What a great year we have traveled through! PTL! And PTL for the good plans He has for us as we seek to come alive in '25! Then just worship!
Maybe begin by offering yourself to God with this prayer song. This song may be helpful throughout our fast time from the 2nd to the 5th. Make Room. Open yourself. Surrender and offer all of you to Him as He leads you to his best and perfect plans for you and us--His new things! Amen! Make room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxubPpU-iIA
Be honest, open, and willing! God has some great new things instore that will come alive in '25! PTL!
Upper Room: A Grateful New Year
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1 (NIV)
I keep an old coffee can on my dining room table. Every day I write something I’m thankful for on a small slip of paper and place it in the can. This discipline of gratitude has become part of my spiritual practice. Sometimes I write down how God has answered a specific prayer request. Other times I record a simple pleasure, such as a phone call with a friend. By New Year’s Eve the can is so full I can hardly stuff another piece of paper in!
On New Year’s Day I empty the can and read through all these expressions of gratitude. By the time I’ve gone through all of them, I realize how much God blessed me over the past year. I can look forward to the new year with hope, trusting that God will continue to bless me. I just need to fix my attention on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” (Phil. 4:8).
Today's Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for a new year and for the blessings of the year that has just passed. We thank you for this new year and trust you will be with us every day. Amen.
Sarah Young:
ODB:
In 1939, with the recent outbreak of war for Britain, King George VI sought in his Christmas Day radio broadcast to encourage citizens of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to put their trust in God. Quoting a poem that his mother found precious, he said: “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. / That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.” He didn’t know what the new year would bring, but he trusted God to “guide and uphold” them in the anxious days ahead.
The image of God’s hand appears in many places in the Bible, including in the book of Isaiah. Through this prophet, God called His people to trust that He as their Creator, “the first and . . . the last” (Isaiah 48:12), would remain involved with them. As He says, “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens” (v. 13). They should put their trust in Him and not look to those less powerful. After all, He’s their “Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (v. 17).
Whatever we face as we look toward the new year, we can follow the encouragement of King George and the prophet Isaiah and place our hope and trust in God. Then, for us too, our peace will be like the river, our “well-being like the waves of the sea” (v. 18).
By Amy Boucher Pye
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As you consider the new year, what situations or relationships could you entrust to God? How does the image of His hand speak to you?
All-powerful God, You created the heavens and the earth and yet You cherish me. I place my trust in You.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Isaiah warned that God would discipline the Israelites for their idolatrous unfaithfulness. He prophesied about one hundred years before the destruction of Jerusalem, their temple, and their seventy-year exile in Babylon (Isaiah 39:6-7; see Jeremiah 25:11-12). Isaiah also prophesied that God would bring His people back, restore them, and bless them (chs. 40-66). In Isaiah 48, the prophet affirmed that whatever God had purposed for His people, He would bring to pass. For He’s the only true, everlasting God—the almighty Creator who chose them to be His people (vv. 12-15). He’s also the “Redeemer” (v. 17) who will teach and guide them (vv. 18-19).
K. T. Sim |
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Chuck Swindoll
Joyce Meyer
TWFYT
Sarah Update:
Hi everyone,
We had a great day of worship on Sunday. It was so good and encouraging to so many praises that were shared by our brothers and sisters in Christ.......also hearing the ways God encouraged some of us to bring HOPE to some folks in need with the $50 we were using for our Christmas Blessing challenge.
Some of you also felt inspired to give to your money to The Kindness Project.
Many folks have been blessed by St Matthew's church family! May God continue to use us in reaching out to our community to share God's love and hope!
Here are some of the prayer needs/praises shared on Sunday:
Darlene Geiger has asked for prayer for her sister - she will be having a biopsy done and let's pray for the results to be negative.
Kay Paul - continue to keep her in prayer, for healing and strengthening. As we learn more we will let you know. Also keep her family in prayer also.
Kathy's 14 year old granddaughter has a heart condition. Her name is Sophia. We have been asked to pray for Sophia, that her medical team with be able to find ways to help her and that she will be able to physically be able to continue on with her activities that she enjoys.
Lori Rohrer - was in the ER due to being very dehydrated. She is doing better and is at home. Continued prayers for her healing and strengthening.
Kay (Karen's Mom) is asking for prayer for her friend Arlene, who is having upper respiratory problems and has been admitted to the hospital.
Gail L shared that she is praising God for how much better Houston is doing this month, compared to last month. He was able to spend some quality time with his family, during Christmas. In three weeks, they will meet with his medical team to discuss how things are coming along.
Kids Church update: Starting January 19th we are going to start the Armor of God series in Kids church. Each week, the kiddos will learn about a different part of the armor, and there will also be a craft to build the part of the armor that they learned about that week.
We want to encourage the kids to come each week so that they don't miss out on building their entire armor suit!
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Starting next week, many of our activities will start back up for the new year.
Tuesday Huddle at 10:00am starts up on January 14 - via Zoom
Coffee, Donuts, Conversations will be on January 8th from10 - 12pm
Clothing Closet will be opening back up on Saturday, January 18th from 10 - 1pm.
Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday January 19th, following our worship service in the
sanctuary.
Our next 2 Peas in a Pod Brunch will be January 26th following worship.
Okay, I believe that's all the updates for now......hope you all have a good rest of your evening and a nice and safe New Year's Eve!
Blessings,
Sarah
Psalm 38:34 Put your HOPE in the Lord. Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
Friday, January 03 2025
Today is a special day for me...23 years ago today, God saved a wretch like me and I was born again, forgiven, cleansed and made new. I was one way and in the blink of an eye another. Since then I have traveled the road of transformation that comes as I continue to draw close and follow Christ. What a blessing! Thanks Lord! Come have your way with me and continue to transform me more and more into Your image and move me to do the things I was created to do for Your glory! May I live, love, teach, lead and make disciples like Jesus! Come! Have Your way with me! Amen!
Good Morning Saved By Grace, Born Again in Christ Brothers and Sisters! Do you remember your born again story? Who might need to hear it? God has custom made us for such a time as this. He drew us and when we received Jesus as our personal Savior, we received the Holy Spirit in us, His gifts customized for us and empowerment to become the people we are created to be, doing what we are created to do. We are also gathered to His Body to unite and go love like Jesus and make disciples. Who are you in Christ? What are your purposes? That's what we want to work on in 2025 as we seek to come alive in '25 and bring new life alive to all those God is sending us to or to us. What's your part in His Good news Delivery Co.? Who are your teammates. We will be trying to figure all that out over then next few months. Ask God to draw you close, speak to your heart and direct your steps and pray for us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers. Amen!
There are so many devotionals and things I thought I was to share today as I always go real deep in devotional quiet time on this day. Today we will discuss some of the plans God has for us during our worship time. It will sort of be a kick off for where He may be leading us into the New Year and a recounting of all His blessings in 2024. He does love you and has gathered us to go love well in His name and for His glory. That is really coming alive in and through and around us. PTL! Can you see it and sense His work coming to life? It is and we can rejoice that God is with us always and always working all things together for good. May we commit to trusting more and following earnestly into 2025 and beyond. Revival fires are lit! Let us fan them to flame and may an inferno of His love overwhelm our neighborhoods! Amen! And we all get to be part of that! How cool is that! I can't wait to see what He has for you, me and us in 2025 that's waiting to come to life!
God has spoken to me today and is speaking to some of you as you encounter Him through these devotionals below. Be still and know. Abide then thrive. he has perfect plans just for you and then for us united as His people on mission! Amen
UR: Rejoice and Give Thanks
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
Since I was a child, I have attended Sunday school. I have always enjoyed it. In my youth, I embraced the opportunity to teach a preteen Sunday school class. For more than 40 years, my calling has been Christian education in different ministry areas of the church.
In July 2022, at 73 years old, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can already feel the effects of the disease. But I have promised, by God’s incomparable grace, to continue to be in ministry as long as I am able.
The Lord has blessed me with long life, my family, and the fellowship of countless brothers and sisters in the Christian faith. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” God has been my teacher throughout my life, and I will remain grateful to God until the very end.
Today's Prayer
Generous God, thank you for your many blessings and for giving us opportunities to serve. Lead us into your kingdom. Your will be done. Amen.CS:
SY
CS
ODB
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When I was a young boy in Ohio, we lived near several construction sites. Inspired by them, my friends and I gathered leftover scraps to build a fort. Borrowing tools from our parents, we hauled wood and spent days trying to make our material serve our purposes. It was fun, but our attempts were poor reflections of the well-constructed buildings around us. They didn’t last long.
In Genesis 11, we encounter a major building construction project. “Let us build ourselves a city,” said the people, “with a tower that reaches to the heavens” (v. 4). A big problem with this effort was that the people did it to “make a name for ourselves” (v. 4).
This has been a recurring issue for humans; we build monuments to ourselves and our achievements. Later in the biblical narrative, this story is contrasted with Solomon’s motivation for building God’s temple: “I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God” (1 Kings 5:5).
Solomon understood that what he built needed to point to God and not himself. This was such an important lesson that he even wrote a psalm about it. Psalm 127 opens with “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (v. 1). Like my childhood fort-building, what we build will not last, but God’s name and what we do for Him has lasting significance.
By Matt Lucas
REFLECT & PRAY
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What are you building with your life? How is your life bringing honor to God?
Father, please forgive me for the times I’ve focused on myself and not on what You’re doing in the world.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Hebrew word rendered “build/building” in Genesis 11 is banah (vv. 4, 5, 8). This term can refer to a physical building—whether rebuilding or establishing something—and metaphorically to building a family. Both usages occur in 2 Samuel 7 (see vv. 5, 7, 13, 27). Psalm 127:1 includes the word twice: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Daniel 4:30 includes the Aramaic counterpart to banah from Nebuchadnezzar: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” In the New Testament “to build” is a metaphor for the work of Christ in establishing His church (see Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:19-22). Building plans that fail to consider Jesus as the master builder (see Hebrews 3:4) are subject to fail.
Arthur Jackson |
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JM
TWFYT
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Overflowing Christ, Bold and Courageous, Givers! Amen! That is us! Maybe you need to pronounce that over you and us and receive it from the Lord and put it on, but most if not all of us are filled with Christ and all His love and ways to overflow and we are praying to be that more and more. Are you bold and courageous? You can be as you grow in trust and faith. That comes about as we see Christ at work and realize that God does always have our best at heart. Yesterday two Words of wisdom were pronounced to and over our Body. The first is the reminder and comes from the experience of a new member: "Love drives out all fear." So true! We've often discussed and reiterated yesterday the fact that we need to always stay focused on God in trust and as we grow in trust, perfect Love of God just overwhelms us and prepares us for whatever hard and fear causing things we face. PTL! Right? because as we dwell in Love and grow in trust no storm of life can lead us away from our focus on God and stepping in faith with Him. Yes love does cast out all fear. Dwell in His Love always! The other word from God ties to the Givers part pf the salutation for today. We discussed how our Body is populated with givers. And how God blesses us and as we go bless we are blessed back because we bless. It is an awesome cycle of God to step into as we give sacrificially and sow lavishly. He supplies all our needs and out of that supply we get to bless others. Freely given we freely give. The Word of God is that as we give we are seeing the results of being blessed back, stuffed down, shaken and filled to overflowing that come as a result of God's promise to all His givers. We discussed how this word pertains to tithing and God's call to test Him in giving and tithing sacrificially back to God to use to bless others. Now those blessings don't always come back in monetary results but we can trace the blessings we receive to our faithfulness to give as God has given and bless as we have been blessed. Amen!
Yesterday morning I was discussing with God about not sharing about giving and tithing very often from the pulpit. I rarely discuss that as I feel I would be preaching to the choir. You guys are givers. And many of us know the blessing of tithing and giving sacrificially and sowing lavishly back to God from what we have been given. God is blessings us! And I believe the church should tithe on the tithes and offerings we receive. Family Ministries does this quarterly and we have never had to do a fund raiser because God keeps blessing us back for our faithfulness. Talk to me sometime to hear the full story of God's faithfulness to tithers and givers. The two words tie together as well because many fear not having enough or lack if they were to tithe. But remember Love does cast out all fear and as we trust God and step out in faith we experience His faithfulness and provision that overflows as we give and sow sacrificially and lavishly. Try it! You will not be disappointed because God is faithful and He wants to bless you and as you trust and bless you will experience His blessings back. Amen!
The same principle applies to fasting and praying. We don't fast or pray to manipulate God but to draw close, release His blessings and get in step with Him. God has called us to give Him the first few days of 2025 back as we fast and pray and dedicate ourselves and the year to Him. We are to fast from the 2nd to the 5th as God leads you. Maybe a meal a day, maybe a full fast, may some TV time. Whatever God leads you to, dedicate it and yourself to Him as you empty yourself and fill up with Him to overflow. Try it! You will see God blessings coming and His ways coming alive in through and around you. Love casts out all fear! The blessings overflowing are coming and we will be coming alive in 2025. Trust God and offer all of you to Him and watch what He will do!
This is long but if you have time check out the devos below that remind us that we are God's creations made for such a time as this. he is leading you and us, His Church, to His best, even when it seems hard or we have to travel through that dark valley. He is always with us, molding us and working all things together for good. And He does have amazing things and great plans ahead as we trust, obey and follow! Watch and see those overflowing blessings that are on their way! Amen! What's God saying to you right now? What will you do about it? Who are your accountability partners? Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things needed will be add! Amen! Don't lean on your own understanding! Acknowledge God in ALL your ways and He will direct your steps! PTL!
Sarah Young
ODB
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Jim has been battling a motor neuron disease for more than a year. The neurons in his muscles are breaking down, and his muscles are wasting away. He’s lost his fine-motor skills and is losing his ability to control his limbs. He can no longer button his shirt or tie his shoelaces, and using a pair of chopsticks has become impossible. Jim struggles with his situation and asks, Why is God allowing this to happen? Why me?
He’s in good company with many other believers in Jesus who have brought their questions to God. In Psalm 13, David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (vv. 1-2).
We too can take our confusion and questions to God. He understands when we cry out “How long?” and “Why?” His ultimate answer is given to us in Jesus and His triumph over sin and death.
As we look at the cross and the empty tomb, we gain confidence to trust in God’s “unfailing love” (v. 5) and rejoice in His salvation. Even in the darkest nights, we can “sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to [us]” (v. 6). Through our faith in Christ, He’s forgiven our sins, adopted us as His children, and is accomplishing His eternal good purpose in our lives.
By Poh Fang Chia
REFLECT & PRAY
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What questions do you need to bring to God? How has He shown His goodness to you, even in your darkest night?
Loving Father, thank You that You care for me. Please help me to trust that You’re making something beautiful of my life.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Psalm 13 is an urgent prayer for God’s aid (vv. 3-4) as well as a lament of the psalmist’s long period of suffering, which is experienced as if God is absent and hiding His face (v. 1). When the psalm asks, “How long?” (vv. 1-2), the point isn’t asking for a specific end date but lamenting how long something has been endured and urging God to end the long wait—to act and make things right. Yet despite Psalm 13’s intense desperation, it’s also a psalm of deep trust (vv. 5-6). Through our bond with a God who we know to be good and faithful, we have the confidence and trust to honestly voice our lament. The reformer Martin Luther called prayer like that expressed in Psalm 13 the “state in which hope despairs, and yet despair hopes at the same time.”
Monica La Rose |
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TWFYT
UR: Peace in the Storm
[Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” - Matthew 8:26 (NRSVUE)
When I was in high school, I traveled back and forth between Germany and the United States by ship several times. Although the vast ocean seemed endless, I had total faith that the captain would bring us safely to the correct destination. Even on stormy nights, the ship stayed on course and safely rolled with the waves.
At times in my life, when it seems like I am being tossed around by waves of uncertainty and hardship, fear causes me to doubt God’s plan. But if I could trust the ship’s captain, how much more can I trust the Creator of the universe? Rather than fear, I want prayer to be my first response to trials. Fear can distract me from God’s promise to be with me through every storm.
When a storm developed as the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, they were afraid. They begged Jesus to help them, so he calmed the storm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Even in the face of severe storms, we can trust Jesus to carry us to the destination he has for us. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, our faith can overcome our fears.
Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to remember that you are present with us during life’s storms. Give us faith to trust that you will carry us through. Amen.
Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Abiding In Christ Co-Laborers! We are so blessed to know Christ, have His Spirit in us always to guide, help, lead, revive, reshape and empower us. We are blessed to be gathered together as His servants growing into our mission to know Him and make Him know as teammates, spurring each other on to the good works He has planned and covering each other in prayer. GO TEAM! As we spend time abiding in Christ and God's Word and Love, we grow and come to understand our next steps of faith, our needed repentance, our call to encourage, and our need to trust as we take that next step of faith. How cool is it that God helps us with all of this and wants to be with us and lead us to His best. his easy yoke is such a joy as we step more fully from our old nature to our new and from what was to what is and what can be. And we get to do all this as a team! We are truly blessed as we spend time abiding in Him and His Word, watch for God and join Him each day! Contemplate that and ask God what's the next step for you and us and who He wants you to co-labor with and do something about that. It will be so good and joyful as we keep working at becoming who we are created to be and doing what we are created and gathered to do! I love how God works and celebrate daily all He is doing in, through and around me, you and all of us! Yes, Rejoice!
Spend some time abiding in Him as you engage with or devotionals below and open your Bibles. Dwell in His love today and soak it up to share. Determine to seek, trust and follow God to His perfect plans for you and us and keep worshiping with great thanksgiving for who He is and all he is doing! He does have great plans for you and us that are coming to life as we grow in trust and the determination to choose joy always as we follow Him. Come! taste and see! he is kind and gentle and His yoke is easy. rest in Him today. be still and know. Exhale the junk and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit and then go love and love more like Jesus just as you are today. Then celebrate and share those stories of what God has and is doing. I can't wait to hear them!
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
ODB:
John was devastated when he lost his job. Closer to the end of his career than the beginning, he knew it would be hard to start over somewhere new. He started praying for the right job. Then John updated his resume, read interview tips, and made a lot of phone calls. After weeks of applying, he accepted a new position with a great schedule and an easy commute. His faithful obedience and God’s provision had met at the perfect intersection.
A more dramatic instance of this occurred with Jochebed (Exodus 6:20) and her family during the time of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt. When Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Hebrew sons must be cast into the Nile (1:22), Jochebed must have been terrified. She couldn’t change the law, but there were some steps she could take to obey God and try to save her son. In faith, she hid him from the Egyptians. She made a little, watertight papyrus basket and “put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (2:3). God stepped in to miraculously preserve his life (vv. 5-10) and later used him to deliver all of Israel from slavery (3:10).
John and Jochebed took very different steps, but both stories are marked by faith-filled action. Fear can paralyze us. Even if the result isn’t what we expected or hoped for, faith empowers us to keep trusting in God’s goodness regardless of the outcome.
By Karen Pimpo
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When do you find yourself frozen in fear or worry? How can you faithfully take the next God-honoring step?
Dear God, please help me faithfully take each step on the path You have for me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scripture offers two reasons why Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed (Numbers 26:59), protected Moses. First, Jochebed saw that “he was a fine child” (Exodus 2:2); she saw something special in him. He’s described as “no ordinary child” (Acts 7:20; Hebrews 11:23). A second reason is that his parents “were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23). Like the two Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15, 17), his parents feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. Hebrews 11:23 commends Amram and Jochebed as people of great faith.
K. T. Sim |
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TWFYT
Harvest
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December 28 - Prayer Is the Doorway
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After they fell to temptation, Adam and Eve were sent away from the beauty of the Garden, and their remaining days would be spent in the wearisome toil of their sin.
But God’s plan was not thwarted by Satan’s work and man’s sin. A promised One would come. His serpent-crushing, saving work was prophesied at the moment of their sin. And when He came, He would make a way for all to come again into the Father’s presence and know Him once again. To walk with Him; to hear His voice. To regain what once was lost. One day the door would open and the Garden fully restored … and the conversation would continue with no interruption. Unceasing prayer, unceasing love, unceasing joy.
This glorious walk with God is open now for us with all its riches. We can walk in the garden of His presence, in part, that we will one day experience fully in a new heaven and new earth. But for all who long for Him, He invites us now to come.
And the doorway is to simply pray.
Grace-filled Father, we adore You and worship You! You created us for Yourself…and in Your image! Through Jesus You are redeeming what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Thank You for not giving up on us and for making a way for Your people to enter into Your presence continually. We rejoice in knowing that the beauty of the Garden will one day be ours through the love and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. May we never take for granted what You have done, what You are doing and what You will do as Your people seek Your face in prayer.
---Adapted from Simply Prayer by Bill Elliff. This book is available at prayershop.org.
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- Praise Jesus for the depth of his redeeming love, which sent him to the cross for you (Gal. 2:20).
- Thank him for dying on your behalf.
- Confess any lack of love you feel toward a brother or sister.
- Commit yourself to remaining in Jesus’ love by keeping his commandments (Jn. 15:10).
- Ask God to show his love to you in new ways today.
- Ask that the redeeming love of God will come gently to an unsaved person you know. Ask God to reveal a glimpse of his unconditional love through you.
Prayer Pointer
“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies beyond the will of God.” —Anonymous
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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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Larry Paul News
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December 2024
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our family, friends, and partners,
Larry experienced shortness of breath and tightness in his chest at the beginning of December. His Doctor agreed to monitor it for a few days. It was getting worse so Larry went to the ER and, after 4 days in the ICU to monitor his heart as he underwent tests and took medicine, they determined he was suffering from an unstable angina, basically a clogged heart artery. He's home now and resting as he learns to adjust to his new diet. So far he's doing fine at home, he was even able to take our dog for short walks. Due to the Christmas holiday, Larry will meet with the Cardiologist in January to discuss the next steps in his treatment, which will probably include an angioplasty and stent in his artery. It was a scary time for all of us and we're still adjusting to our "new normal". Larry needs to rest and cannot drive, so Enol is taking on more and more responsibilities for our family. She needs to get Larry's medicine, shop, cook different meals for him, and take our boys out to be with their friends. It's a big adjustment for all of us and we continue to seek God's wisdom to manage the changes.
Larry was managing the maintenance, grounds, drivers, custodians, and security departments on campus, and they were able to keep the campus functioning and safe during the first semester. He helped design and bid out the work to start building a new parking lot on campus as well as gathering information and pricing for future projects including adding solar panels, replacing a roof on a High School building, and replacing 20+ year old air conditionings systems. We're not sure what he'll be able to do next semester as he continues to recover from his heart issue.
Richard and Brayden enjoyed their time at the ACSC volleyball tournament in Indonesia in October. The team played hard and finished in second place. We are so proud of all of them! They are now both on the varsity basketball team which is doing well in their local league. We're looking forward to going to Bangkok in February for ACSC's boys basketball tournament. They both continue to do well in their classes and Richard is applying to different universities in the US. He wants to study business with a focus in sports management. We are so proud of them, the fine young men they are becoming and the way they are adjusting to Larry's medical condition.
Enol is enjoying her time volunteering at Faith Academy's Elementary division and being part of the team Moms for the boys' athletic teams. We're not sure what she'll be able to do when the boys go back to school since she'll also need to take care of Larry during his recovery.
Praises
- Larry's good care at the hospital
- Richard and Brayden doing well at Faith Academy, both with schoolwork and athletics.
- Enol can volunteer at Faith Academy
- God's continued provision for our needs
Prayer Requests
- Larry's complete recovery from his heart condition
- Wisdom for Larry's doctors for his next steps
- Provision of the necessary funds for costs not covered by insurance
- Enol not to be overwhelmed taking care of Larry, our boys, and her family
- Enol's sister Zeny, complete recovery from stroke, and her financial needs
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support of our ministry at Faith Academy in the Philippines.
Larry, Enol, Richard, and Brayden |
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Honoring our senior volleyball players. When Larry's men are in charge of hanging the banners, Richard gets center stage!
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Picture with our boys after winning the Faith Academy Dan Landry tournament.
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| We are so proud of our ACSC boys volleyball team! |
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ACSC boys volleyball senior recognition
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Richard performing at the Faith Academy October concert
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Richard performing at the Faith Academy Christmas concert
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Financial Partnership
Mail a check to:
Wycliffe
PO Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-8200
www.wycliffe.org
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Friday, January 03 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Just think and meditate and worship this morning as you think about that little baby in a manger that grew to the God/Man on the cross that took our sins and purged them and delivered us from eternity in Hell! How is the Holy Spirit leading you this morning as you contemplate God's great forgiving, patient love for you?
Sunday worship at 10 live in person and on Zoom. Be ready to share your stories of how God used the $50. He gave you to bless others. (Write them out if you need us to read them). We will examine all God has done in 2024 and prayerfully contemplate His plans for 2025. What's God saying to you? What are His plans for you and us? How are we doing? What might need some tweaking? What can we build on? God is revealing your part to this and maybe some ideas to spur us on to His best. Keep seeking and be prepared to share. God is on the move! Amen!
Good Morning Known, Redeemed, Loved, Sent to Love, Children of God! You are His custom made for such a time as this disciple and apostle--student who is sent to love and make disciples. Love as I have loved you is Jesus' command that we continue to work on. Thank God we are known and forgiven and helped to live like Christ more and to go love well! Often we can't imagine how or why God would wants to use some sinner like we are. Right? Who am I Lord that You are mindful of me is often a praising question I ask of our Father in heaven. Yet He is mindful, loving, forgiving and our Potter who molds us to fit our created purposes. Just trying to fathom all of this blows my mind. We have so much to be thankful about and so much to learn and put into action just as we are. He really does have good plans just for you, just as you are. And as we follow Him and do what we are created to do, we grow in Christ and more like Him and eventually will be able to live and love like Him. Please Lord, come! Have your way with me and us and lead us to Your perfect plans for today and eternity. Thanks! Amen!
This morning God really spoke to my heart as I extended my quiet time with Him and prayerfully meditated on His Word and my devotionals. Take some time to still yourself, open His Word prayerfully and maybe engage Him through the devotionals below. Then wrap up your time with the Harvest Prayer Connection blog. (Start there if you have limited time! It's another good one!) It really threads through these devos and speaks to your open and soft heart and will help you step into this day prayed up and ready for whatever God has in store for you. Rejoice for you are loved, known, redeemed and created for such a time as this and God is molding all things together for your and others good! PTL and Amen! Choose to live and love well, my friends! God is with you always and really does have great plans for you and us today and always! PTL! Thank God I'm Forgiven and being prepared and sent for such a time as this! Great fruit is budding!
Chuck Swindoll
Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper Room: Unexpected Beauty
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. - Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
After weeks of high temperatures followed by torrential rainfall, the sun rose on a calm, clear morning. The blue sky was sprinkled with white fluffy clouds. I decided to take a walk. Nestled among tall pines and pecan trees, our pond seemed like the perfect place to begin. The sounds of birdsong and splashing fish and turtles were a symphony of nature. The colorful flowers and deep, green grass created a soft blanket across the ground.
But the prettiest blooms around our pond were never planned. No expert gardener prepared the soil or planted the seeds. Most folks would call them weeds, but I don’t see it that way. I see a wonderful gift of unique and beautiful blooms.
We can enjoy many things in life that were never planned. Sometimes we walk paths we never thought we would. But just as the wildflowers bloomed and brought joy, the unexpected in our lives can bring a joy all its own. Even when we encounter the unforeseen, we can trust God to walk with us.
Today's Prayer
Gracious Father, help us to find the beauty in the midst of change and challenges. Thank you for your deep and abiding love and presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Word for You Today
Harvest blog:
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December 27 - The Hope of Glory
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: Christ in me, the hope of glory.
Heavenly Father how grateful I am for Christ Jesus in whom all of Your fullness, the fullness of the Deity, lives in bodily form. Because of my faith in Him, I have been given “fullness in Christ” who is the head over every power and authority! Thank You for this great mystery—“Christ in me the hope of glory”! Thank You for the Holy Spirit, given to me as a deposit, a guarantee of what is to come!
And now Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I ask that you strengthen me to live as one who has died to my earthly nature, for my life is hidden with Christ in You. May I therefore set my heart on things above, not on earthly things, for surely Jesus, who is my life will soon appear. Make me ready Lord! Renew me in knowledge of You and remind me continually that Christ is all, and in all. (Pause and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what things have captured your heart and taken Christ’s place as Lord of All in your life.)
As one of Your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, may my life be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help me to forgive others as You Lord Jesus, have forgiven me. And may Your peace rule in my heart. (Pause and ask that greater evidence of the Holy Spirit would be seen in the way you live. Consider what areas of your life lack peace. Invite Jesus to rule over these. Ask Him to fill you with His peace.)
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind that I might understand in a deeper way the great mystery that Christ lives in my heart by faith. Reveal to me I pray the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are found in Him.
Mighty God, as this truth lands on my heart and takes root, may I truly live and move and have my being in You alone. May Your power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, that is in me, be lived out of life!
Everlasting Father may my trust in You increase as I walk in this great truth--that Christ is in me, the Holy Spirit is mine, and You will never leave me or forsake me.
Prince of Peace because You are in me, I ask that You guard my heart and mind and fill me with Your peace. For it is written that Your peace in not like what the world tries to give. This day I choose to not be troubled or afraid.
Father I ask that You renew my mind according to the truth of Your Word that because of Christ Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, You are with me, You are for me, You are at work through me, and You are in me. May my life be continually transformed as I walk Your ways. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Emmanuel, Amen.
(Colossians 2:9-10; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Colossians 3:1-15; Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:3; Ephesians 1:19-20; John 14:27; Matthew 1:23; Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount
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Friday, January 03 2025
Good Morning Fruitful Branches of THE Vine! Amen! Today some of us need to get back to the reality of the work-a-day world and refocus back to producing fruit for our bosses. Some of us still have time off while others are retired. No matter which you are, you are still called to be producers of good and abundant fruit for the Lord. Check out and begin with Harvest Blogs this morning. God has created you, saved you, gifted and trained you for such a time as this and He has perfect and custom made plans for you to produce fruit that please Him. So be still, seek Him, receive His direction and empowerment to produce the fruit He has for you today.
Let us spend the rest of 2024 meditating on all God has done and seeking Him for what He has planned for us to come alive in '25. No matter what you are facing or celebrating, God knows and is with you and will use that to lead you to His best. Trust Him. Worship. Receive. And go produce that good fruit you are created and chosen to produce. Amen! I'm praying for you! God is with you! Rejoice, receive and follow well today! Amen!
Gotta Fly! Lots to do today! I have prayed for you and for me and for Go to make clear how He has planned to use you and me today! Seek and follow well, friends! Go live and love like Jesus! Amen
Harvest Blogs
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December 26 - Give Me Your Heart
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God has chosen to work through me.
Father how I thank You that because I have put my faith and trust in Christ, He has made me a new creation! The old has gone--the new has come! This great redemptive work is from You Father, through Christ, for me! My relationship with You has been made right and because of His finished work on the cross You do not hold my sin against me! Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! (Pause and be thankful that Christ Jesus has saved you from your sin.)
Now Father I ask that You help me to understand what it means that because I am in Christ the message of reconciliation is lived out and proclaimed, through me! May I be found worthy of the name “Ambassador of Christ” and faithfully implore others to be reconciled to You.
The free gift of salvation through Jesus that alone can make us to be the “righteousness of God” is good news that most around me need desperately to hear. I ask that You capture my heart again I pray, with the joy of this great salvation in You and open my lips that I might praise You and proclaim with great joy, the gospel message. You are the God of all hope and I ask that I would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and continually be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have in You.
This day I ask You Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind and give me ears to hear what You would say to me, what You would speak through me. Make me increasingly sensitive to Your voice and gentle promptings, and give me a willing, submissive spirit that I might obey.
Mighty God may Your power be evident through the way I live and conduct my life, that I would truly live and move and have my very being in You alone.
Everlasting Father may Your fatherly embrace and great love be expressed through my life. In my conversations and interactions with the world around me, be glorified I pray. May Jesus be seen through me in such loving ways that many are drawn to Him.
Prince of Peace in the midst of this chaotic fearful world, may the peace of Christ be spread through my life. Increase my trust and hope in You that I in turn might minister to those around me who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Give me Your heart. Your eyes. Your ears, O Lord. That in all things I might respond as Jesus would, and be a worthy ambassador of the gospel. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Psalm 51:12,15; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 17:28; Matthew 5:16)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God as the one who makes it possible for you to bear much fruit (Jn. 15:5).
- Thank him for the promise of a great spiritual harvest in your life.
- Confess sins which stunt the development of spiritual fruit in your life.
- Commit yourself to daily devotional habits which will stimulate the growth of such fruit.
- Ask God to help you produce the kind of harvest which will give him the glory and praise.
- Ask God to pour out his blessing on his church throughout the world. Pray for fruitfulness among those who remain faithful to God and are firmly united to Jesus, the true vine.
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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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Sarah Young
Charles Stanley
Upper room: A Global Connection
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
As Christians, it is easy to think that we must not feel despair, be anxious, or have fears. We must remain calm and happy; we must always be loving, wise, and grateful. We often think that the struggles and burdens we deal with are never a struggle for others. This can make us feel unworthy and alone with our unanswered questions.
However, in those very moments the two of us have encountered a message from Csendes Percek — the Hungarian edition of The Upper Room — in which someone from another part of the world has written about those same doubts and experiences. Csendes Percek is precious to us because we read stories about real life, not only about “perfect Christians” and happy endings. We can identify with the feelings of the writers, and sometimes a story completely reflects our own emotions and thoughts.
Most of the time we do not receive direct answers or solutions, but we do find compassion.
It is encouraging to know that people living in different cultures and places suffer the burdens of this world just like we do, and they still trust God.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, we give thanks for opportunities to experience your faithfulness. Thank you for the support you give to us and all our Christian friends around the world. Amen.
ODB
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The year 2022 was very special for my wife and me. That’s the year our granddaughter, Sophia Ashley, was born—the only granddaughter among our eight grandchildren. Sophia’s grandparents haven’t stopped smiling! When our son calls via video, the excitement gets ramped up even more. My wife and I may be in different rooms, but her joyful holler reveals that she’s getting a glimpse of Sophia. Seeing those we love from afar is now only a call or click away.
The ability to see the person we’re talking to on the phone is relatively new, but face time with God—prayer with a conscious awareness of being in His presence—is not. David’s prayer in Psalm 27—voiced in the midst of opposition that required assistance beyond the capability of the closest human allies (vv. 10-12)—includes these words: “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming’ ” (v. 8 nlt).
Difficult times rightly compel us to “seek his face” (v. 8). But that’s not the only time we can or should be in face-to-face fellowship with the one in whose “presence is fullness of joy”; at His “right hand are pleasures forevermore” (16:11 nkjv). If you listen closely, at any time you may hear Him say, “Come and talk with me.”
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
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At what time in your day do you find your heart most attuned to God? How can regular communion with Him prepare you for a “day of trouble”?
Heavenly Father, I praise You for the privilege of face time with You. Please help me to always be ready to spend time with You in prayer.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
David’s anxious prayer in the second half of Psalm 27 (vv. 7-12) must be read against his unwavering proclamation at the beginning of the psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life” (v. 1). David chooses to focus on God rather than on his difficult circumstances. He speaks of Him as his light, which guides him safely into God’s presence and goodness. God is also his salvation, delivering him from dangers and death. He’s his stronghold, providing a strong, fortified place for his refuge and security. Knowing who God is, David rhetorically asks, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” (v. 1). The psalmist needn’t fear, for God won’t abandon him. Rather, “the Lord will hold me close” (v. 10 nlt). David invites us to “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).
K. T. Sim |
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Friday, January 03 2025
Merry Christmas!
Good Morning Worshipers!
Today, as always, Immanuel--God is with us! My thought was to just be still and meditate on all the nuances of what that means today. So what does that mean to you? Who needs to hear that Good News? Praying for you and yours today to be filled with His Love, peace and Joy! Amen!
Here is the only devo I am sharing today because it is the same thoughts God gave to me to share. Be still and know, receive and go love like Jesus! Shalom!
Harvest
December 25 - Christmas Day!
Christmas Blessings from OneCry and Harvest Prayer!
Emmanuel
Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God is with me.
Heavenly Father thank You for coming near to me through Christ Jesus, for in Him all Your fullness lived in bodily form. He is Emmanuel, God with me. How grateful I am that because of His finished work at the cross and my faith in Him alone, I have relationship with You. You are with me and You will never leave me or forsake me. Hallelujah!
Thank You Father for the promises of Your Word that even when I pass through deep waters of trials and tribulation, it does not change who You are or alter Your presence with me. For even the hard and painful things You will work together for my good. (Pause and commit any present difficulties in your life to God and ask Him to use them to make you more like Jesus.)
I choose Lord, to not be fearful or dismayed by the raging storms of life all about me, for You are my God. In You I will be strong because You uphold me with Your righteous right hand. You are the Eternal God, my refuge, and I will rest in Your everlasting arms. Yes Father, I will rest secure in You all day long for You love me and You will not forsake me. (Pause and thank God for His presence with you in the midst of present circumstances. Ask Him to continue to go before you and to blanket you with His peace.)
This day I ask You, Wonderful Counselor, that You open my heart and mind to help me to live in such a way that it is apparent to me and those around me, that You are with me.
Mighty God, reveal Your presence in my everyday circumstances reminding me of Your continual nearness--every moment.
Everlasting Father may Your faithful love be my constant buffer from the darkness of the world.
Prince of Peace calm my anxious heart with Your peaceful assurance that You are with me and will never leave me. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, I pray. Amen.
(Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-11; Joshua 1:5; Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 41:10; 33:27; Deuteronomy 33:12; Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Friday, January 03 2025
Bread ministry today 10-12 then worship with communion (and on Zoom) at 4 followed by a quick meal for those who need one. rejoice!
Good Morning Children of Light and Love because Christ Lives in Us! Amen! Shine bright today and in the days ahead! He came to save you and be with you forever! PTL!
I had this idea of what God wanted me to share today and then I encountered the harvest prayer blogs. begin with those today. The harvest blog is about the prince of peace and then Kim's link to her blog is a great place to flow to worship today. Yes Immanuel! God is with us! Amen! If you still need some time to prepare your hearts and abide in the Vine, check out the devos God used to speak to my heart this morning. You are known, loved, cared for and are being prepared to go live and love more like Jesus. That all started in the manger and became available as the Holy Spirit drew you to saving faith in Christ. Pray some we know are drawn and receive that salvation which is our joy and know the love and peace of Jesus. He has plans for some we know and are praying for. Keep at it and keep inviting in. Tear down strongholds and hindrances and soften hearts as you pray. May revival and salvation come alive today and this week. Immanuel is wanting to be with you and all those you are praying for and inviting to come and see. Rejoice! Amen!
Harvest Blog:
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December 24 - Prince of Peace
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Before you begin, ask God to reveal to your heart the ways that the enemy has robbed you of the peace that is yours because of Christ. Confess these things to Him and ask Him to pour out on you His peace that passes all understanding. Ask Him to still the storms in your life and refocus your living.
I thank You Father, that Jesus Himself is my peace and that He has completely destroyed the barrier that separated me from You! How grateful I am that I have been reconciled to Him through His blood shed on the cross and now have peace with You.
Forgive me I pray, for the times that I do not cast my cares and anxieties onto You, but instead carry them myself and allow my heart to be weighed down and needlessly burdened. I ask that Your peace, which is beyond my ability to understand, guard my heart and my mind--cover me, because I am in Christ Jesus. I belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus, for the peace that You give to me which is so very different than the fleeting attempts of the world to quiet my heart. Guard my heart by Your Holy Spirit, that I might not be afraid. Help me to learn to be still and know that You are God, to hear Your voice in the midst of the storms that I face saying “Peace, be still.” Keep me from fear and increase my faith. May my life be characterized by Your peace no matter what situation I might face, that You may be glorified in me and through me and receive the praise that is due Your name.
May I love Your Word that I might have great peace and not stumble.
May my mind be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and produce life and peace.
May Your strength and peace fill my life because I belong to You.
Lord Jesus, You are my Wonderful Counselor, You are Mighty God, the Everlasting Father incarnate and Prince of Peace! With You all things are possible. I invite You into the impossible situations of my life and ask that as I wait on You, You fill me with Your peace – for my hope is in You alone and I trust in Your great name.
(Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; Psalm 46:10; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 119:165; Romans 8:6; Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:26)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Focus on Jn. 15:1-17 for the next few days.
- Praise your Father, who is the gardener of your soul.
- Thank Jesus for being the true vine which nourishes and gives life to the branches.
- Confess moments when you’ve tried to sever your relationship to Jesus in some way.
- Commit yourself to welcoming God’s pruning in your life despite the pain it might bring.
- Ask God to make you more fruitful as you live for him.
- Ask that your fruit-bearing will be attractive to unsaved people you know. Pray that they will “taste [of that fruit] and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8).
Prayer Pointer
“God rules the world through the prayers of his people.” —Anonymous
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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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Kim's Blog: A Prayer to Emmanuel – God with Us!
Sarah Young:
Charles Stanley
Chuck Swnidoll
Joyce Meyer
Friday, January 03 2025
This Week:
Tuesday Christmas Eve:
Bread Ministry 10-12
Worship with Communion 4PM followed by brief meal for those who need one
Wed: Christmas Day! Immanuel! God is with us! PTL! Amen!
Good Morning Very Blessed Co-Laborers! God made us, saved us, gifted us, lives in us and loves through us! What joy we know and get to share as His love overflows from us. Think about that today as you prepare for that last sprint to get it all done before Christmas Day. God is with you and watch for how He may want to love through you today and prepare to join Him. Maybe you still have your $50. to invest in someone. Ask God to lead you. Pray for those that we have already blessed. Think and pray about someone God may want you to invite to worship with us on Tuesday. Then ask and invite. God has custom made and gifted you for such a time as this. PTL! I can't wait to hear the stories of how God has used us this season to bless many! God is sure on the move in our midst! PTL! Thanks you to all the servants at St. Matts! We truly are being blessed to go bless and then being blessed back as we go do it! PTL!
Yesterday Sarah reminded us all about love and how God is Love and Love lives in us to love through us. We've often discussed this. How is God/Love loving through you? How is Love helping you to do your part in God's Good News Delivery Co.? We will be discussing some of this in the weeks ahead as we continue to seek Him and follow Him to His best plans for you and us. Maybe start journaling all that He is doing the next few days to be prepared to share that. So many will be encouraged and led to glorify God as you share.
Today I wrap up my homebound visits, Lord willing. So many I have visited ask about all of you and say Hi. They are hearing stories of how God is moving and using us. Some are really struggling and could use some love and encouragement. Reach out as able. Some of us are facing a difficult Christmas season. Who is God bringing to mind for you to reach out and love on? Do it! Today I am just sharing two devos that are speaking to my and will to your heart. God is our provision and He fills us with Love and Light to share and He uses us to go live and love like Jesus. May today be a day filled with Christ, His Love and Light and may the and they be incarnated (brought to life) through you and us. God is writing some stories right now for us to live well and share. Dwell in His Love today and allow Him to come to life in and through you and then share those stories. We are God's love story, written in red. For God so loved you that he sent His Son. And His Son wants to love and love through you today. Rejoice and ask Him to use you well. Amen!
Harvest:
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December 23 - God Is For Me
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Before you begin, meditate on this thought: God is for me.
How I praise and thank You Father, for once I walked in darkness, but now I have seen the Light of Jesus! Thank You for giving Your one and only Son for me--He who had never sinned--for me, who sins continually. How can this be? There are no words that adequately express how thankful I am for what You have done for me!
For Your willingness to be born in human likeness and bear my punishment on the cross--Thank You Lord Jesus!
For removing my sin from me as far as the east is from the west and remembering it no more--Thank You Lord Jesus!
You are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and I celebrate and announce that You are the Christ, Messiah--Emmanuel!
Thank You Father for the gift of Jesus that expresses so lavishly, Your great love for me--that You are for me. If You would give me Jesus, is there anything for my good that You would withhold? If You are for me, is there anyone who can be against me? If You are for me is there anything that I should fear?
I ask Father that You give me a fresh glimpse of Your face as You cheer me on in this race that You have marked out for me, a fresh understanding of your great love for me from which I can never be separated. Spur me on by the Holy Spirit in my pilgrimage with You until I am truly able to live as “more than a conqueror”! In spite of trouble or hardship, remind me continually that Your love is holding me fast--that there is nothing--past, present or future that will ever separate me from Your immeasurable love expressed in Christ--nothing! Hallelujah!
This day I ask Wonderful Counselor that You open my mind to help me understand in a deeper way what it means that You are for me. Mighty God, reveal Your power in my life in such a way that strongholds are exposed and come crashing down! Everlasting Father embrace me with Your love and acceptance. Prince of Peace calm my anxious heart and reveal Yourself in the midst of the storms of my living, for You are for me, and nothing will separate me from You great love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Isaiah 9:2; John 3:16; Philippians 2:6-11; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 8: 31-39; Hebrews 12:1)
--By Tiece L. King, author of the Pray the Word series: Pray the Word: 90 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word: 31 Prayers That Touch the Heart of God, Pray the Word for Your Church. These resources are available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Jas. 1:17).
- Thank God for remaining the same throughout all eternity (Ps. 102:27).
- Confess that sometimes you are not as consistent as you would like to be in your walk with God.
- Commit yourself to remaining true to that which does not change, the eternal God (2 Cor. 4:18).
- Ask God to glorify himself in your life.
- Pray that the stewardship of resources in your congregation will please God. Ask that members will be willing to give generously of their time and talents as well as their finances. Pray that they will experience joy in giving.
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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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Sarah Young
ODB:
Gregory of Nazianzus and Basil of Caesarea were celebrated leaders in the fourth-century church and also close friends. They first met as philosophy students, and Gregory later said that they became like “two bodies with a single spirit.”
With their career paths so similar, rivalry could’ve arisen between Gregory and Basil. But Gregory explained that they avoided this temptation by making a life of faith, hope, and good deeds their “single ambition,” then “spurring each other on” to make the other more successful in this goal than themselves individually. As a result, both grew in faith and rose to high levels of leadership without rivalry.
The book of Hebrews is written to help us stay strong in faith (Hebrews 2:1), encouraging us to focus on “the hope we profess” and to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (10:23-24). While this command is given in the context of a congregation (v. 25), by applying it to their friendship, Gregory and Basil showed how friends can encourage each other to grow and avoid any “bitter root,” such as rivalry that might grow between them (12:15).
What if we made faith, hope, and good deeds the ambition of our own friendships, then encouraged our friends to become more successful in this goal than ourselves individually? The Holy Spirit is ready to help us do both.
By Sheridan Voysey
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What qualities do you see in Gregory and Basil’s friendship? How could you encourage your friends to grow in faith, hope, and good deeds?
Dear Jesus, please make my friendships rich in faith, hope, and good deeds.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The words priest/high priest occur nearly forty times in the book of Hebrews. The priestly ministry of Jesus comes into view in the earliest verses of the book: “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). Accolades for Jesus as high priest include words like “merciful and faithful” (2:17) and “great” (4:14; 10:21). The chorus of praise in 7:26 is of note: “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” What are the implications for believers in Jesus that He occupies this role? The “therefore” and “let us” phrases help us. “Therefore, . . . since we have confidence . . . and since we have a great priest . . . let us draw near to God . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess . . . let us consider how we may spur one another on” (10:19-24).
Arthur Jackson |
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Don 
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