Wagner's update below

This Week:

Worship today at 10 with Children's Church. (Pray for Mike as he brings the Word today. (Pastor Don and Karen are taking a sabbath rest few days))

Tues: 10 am Zoom Huddle; 6 PM Spiritual Gifts class

Wed: 10-12 Brea ministry; 6-7:30 Dinner Huddle (all welcome. Pray into this as we have been connecting to more neighbors and bread people. Thank God for His provision and answered prayers!)

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Good Morning Praising, Praying, Studying Worshipers! May God draw you close as you praise, pray and study His Word. May He speak to your hearts today and through Mike and as you abide in His presence! May we worship in Spirit and Truth and enter His courts with thanksgiving and prepared hearts. Amen!

This is a day of sabbath for Karen and me. It's a day to turn off the noise, dwell in God's loving presence, receive His shalom and a day to recharge, refresh and prepare for what He has in store for us. It's a day to enjoy too! God made the Sabbath for us and we are wise to choose to take some days of sabbath rest and worship and fun! I had an amazing time with the Lord this morning and want to share the devotionals I used and how God knitted them together to share with you. He is speaking love over you all the time. Be still and know; reload and go! Amen! That's our plan!

So what's He saying to you today and what will you do about it? Begin with some time in His presence, some worship, some receiving and reloading and follow Him into the week ahead refreshed and ready. Turn off the noise and focus on what really matters--Christ and allowing Him to love through you and enjoying all the blessings of this life God has given you. Shalom shalom! Perfect peace to you all! Rejoice, worship and enjoy this day! May God reload you as He will water our gardens today and fill our aquafers and may we sink our roots deep in Him! Amen!

Upper Room: New Strength

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. - Psalm 18:32 (NIV)

It was a terrible night. Something had triggered the memory of hurts from long ago. I couldn’t fall asleep as I replayed these crushing experiences in my mind. Since I couldn’t sleep, I read

Matthew 26:36-46 which describes Jesus’ agonizing prayers in the garden of Gethsemane.

Strangely, I was comforted that Jesus’ closest friends — Peter, James, and John — couldn’t support him because they fell asleep. This prompted me to go back to bed, and thankfully I slept another few hours.

But when I woke up at 6 a.m., I could hardly stand. My wife and I had to leave soon for church since I was in the choir. I worried that in this wobbly state I wouldn’t be able to sing. Then I remembered a verse from a psalm I had read a few days before: “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” In the midst of troubles, God gave David strength. A sense of calm came over me and I felt a new vigor, trusting that what God had done for David, God would do for me.

Today's Prayer

Merciful God, when we feel completely drained, thank you for giving us strength. Amen.

I to We Devotional

Our Daily Bread

Sarah Young

Wagner's update:

Greetings Friends, God is Moving - In the hearts of our dorm boys “Do I just know about Jesus, or do I know Jesus?” “How do I know if I really am a Christian?” “What does it mean to follow Jesus?” These are just a few of the questions that the boys have asked this term. They are really seeking to understand what it truly means to know and follow Jesus. It is very exciting that the boys are initiating these conversations and asking these questions. We’re so thankful that one of them made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart! PRAY that God will continue His work in the hearts of each of our nine dorm boys and that we will be sensitive to what He is doing and the questions our boys are asking. We were recently reminded in our dorm devotions that Jesus was just 12 years old when He stayed behind in Jerusalem after Passover. His parents returned to the city frantically searching for Him and found Him teaching in the temple. He was just 12 years old! The same age as many of our dorm boys.   God is Moving - In the hearts throughout Africa Muslims throughout the world are observing Ramadan this month. Each day Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk, even being careful to not swallow their own spit. They are hoping that this will be a time that they can earn credit with God and come closer to him. They are spiritually searching and are more open to spiritual conversations. PRAY that Muslims throughout the world will meet Jesus during this time of searching. Here is a great prayer resource (30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World 2025) to pray for the Muslim world this month.   Africa is full of unrest right now. Unrest is really not a strong enough word --- in eastern Congo there is essentially a war going on that has displaced so many people, even the UN Peacekeepers. Rape, murder, and child slavery are a daily part of life in this region. Seventy Christians were gathered together in a church and beheaded. God’s intervention is so needed in the hearts and lives of people in central Africa today. PRAY!   Moving Ahead! A little over two weeks until the end of this school term! Our boys are ready to *MOVE* home and spend significant time with their families. Next week, we will be leading a group of juniors and seniors on an African Field Studies trip to South Africa. The students have been learning about the history of South Africa and the many challenges that are facing South Africa today. We will have some great opportunities to meet with people who are ministering in the Cape Town area. Our student group is very diverse, and we believe this will be an eye-opening experience for them. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and that the hearts of each student will be open to what God wants to teach them during this trip.   After the term ends, we’re excited for the opportunity to make a quick trip stateside to visit our grandson (and his parents), spend a few days with Micah and Lynnsi, and attend the wedding of one of our RVA sons. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and a wonderful time reconnecting with family & friends. Finally, looking ahead to next year, there are still some needs to be filled at RVA. The one that hits closest to home is a math teacher for 1st term (September to November) to fill in for a teacher on home assignment. Spanish, French, Art, Wood Tech, Computer Science, Band and elementary school teachers are also needed. We have a need for dorm parents: high school boys, high school girls and junior high boys. Finally, we are seeking a child safety officer, a therapist/school-based counselor, registered nurses and a pediatric doctor. Perhaps YOU could fill one of these roles, serving families throughout Africa. Please PRAY that God would move in the hearts of people who have a strong desire to be part of the ministry of Rift Valley Academy and are able to serve in one of these important roles. We appreciate your faithful prayers, Brian & Missy

Good Morning House of Pray for the Nations and Disciple making Disciples of Jesus! These are tow things that God keeps bringing to the forefront as I seek Him for his will and plans for us. Please pray for us to become a House of Prayer for the Nation and disciple makers. And ask what your part is and plan to do that with some friends. I have to leave for an early doc appointment so not much tome to share. But man we heard a great message about prayer yesterday from god through Mike. Pray to be used, to be sent, to be broken. Powerful, dangerous prayers for sure! We will expand on those this week and think about how Jesus taught His disciples to pray and then commissioned them to go do what He did. That includes praying and connection with others that leads to a relation with God and growing as His disciples. That is His plan and mission for us! Keep seeking, knocking, humbling and offering self to him. he created you for such a time as this and has custom plans for you.

Spend some time with these devos and blogs, God and some prayer partners. What's he saying? what will you do about that? Teach us to pray Lord, Help us to die to self, take up cross today and follow Jesus to go make disciples in His ways. Thanks. use me! Send me! break me! Expand Your kingdom. Thanks! Amen!

I to We:

Sarah Young:

Connection:

March 17 - Making Disciples Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)   This is the Great Commission, Jesus’ last command to His disciples. Most Bible teachers feel that because He issued this command last, He meant it to have great importance for the church. Devout followers of Christ down through the ages have served tirelessly, often in the face of fierce opposition, to take the gospel message and make disciples in all nations, to all people groups.   While I was executive director of Evangelical Friends Mission, I was aware that the places where it is easy to take the gospel message had all been reached and now there remained places and cultures where Satan has had hundreds of years to put down his roots, and he does not give up that ground easily. We were also constantly monitoring our progress toward the fulfillment of this Great Commission, and I read and heard reports on the estimated number of people groups that still did not have a Christian witness among them. Because of the drive to fulfill this command, there is a strong emphasis on reaching the unreached—going to new people groups.   Part of the motivation to reach all peoples comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” This commission is given in different forms in all four Gospels. In connection with the giving of this command in Luke 24:49, NKJV, Jesus gave another command, which I’ve chosen to include here, rather than to list it separately: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”   In Acts 1:8, He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Then the NKJV version says, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” If we hope to be successful missionaries, then we must receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. I’m convinced that the most successful Christian ministers have a strong emphasis on missions. C. W. Perry, the beloved pastor of one of the largest Friends churches, used to say, “The church God blesses gets outside itself.” God honors a ministry that seeks diligently to fulfill this command. The wonderful promise in connection with this command is Jesus’ promise to be with us always, even to the end of the age. All of us want His presence with us.   I wonder if we can really have that if we are not in some way involved in the mission of seeking to take the gospel to all nations. As an act of obedience to the second part of this command, I have given almost a lifetime to writing this book. (I started it while I was young, but I laid it aside for years when I was extra busy.) I saw that Jesus commanded us to teach others to observe all things He had commanded, but as far as I knew there was no book, outside of the Bible, that taught all the things He commanded.   Lord Jesus, I want to follow You wherever You lead. You are so clear with Your command to go into all nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. Please give me an increased passion for world missions. Show me how to pray daily for Your heart concerning the world. If there is any way that I am to be involved beyond my prayers and my giving, please show me. I want to move in Your authority to see You receive increased glory around the world.    --Adapted from Encountering Jesus: Praying the Commands of Christ into Your Life by Norval Hadley. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise the Lord, who made and cares for heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them (Ps. 146:1-6). Give thanks for his personal care for you. Confess instances of putting ultimate trust “in mortal men, who cannot save” (146:3). Commit yourself to putting your hope in the Lord your God. Ask God to help you hand your cares to him through daily prayer. Pray that God will continually prompt his people to join him in caring for those oppressed or otherwise in need (146:7-10). Ask God to grant corporate and individual wisdom, persistence, and love in seeking to extend his kingdom. Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Good Morning Friends of God! God loves you, delights in you, just as you are, and sings over you! Delight in Him this morning. Dwell in His love and soak it in to sustain you and direct you. Live and love like Jesus!

Pray through the Connections blog below. Then meditate on the devos below that as you dwell and delight in the Lord this morning. Worship and receive His love, heart and wisdom to go do what he has planned for, you. Pray for revival for His people, His Church and this nation and our leaders. Father! We delight in You! Thank You for Your love song over us! Fill us to overflowing with Your Love, wisdom and the want to to go live and love like Jesus today. Revive us and this nation. may You Kingdom come and will be done as we hallow Your Holy Name. Amen!

Yesterday our guest dog climbed up my leg begging for love. May we do the same with our loving Abba as we seek to dwell in His love!

Connection Blogs:

March 15 - Father, Send Revival! Lord, change my heart; give me a surrendered heart, a hungry heart to know You. Show me excuses I make for not serving You and not being faithful to Your church. Show me the idols I have allowed and hidden in my heart. By faith, let me remove them. Father, teach me to seek You and obey Your Word.   Lord, I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your mercy, and Your protection and provision. Let me not be overwhelmed by the great numbers that oppose me. You are my God.  Just as You did with Asa, let opposition drive me to seek You. Father, You are my refuge. Teach me to trust and rest in You as I cry out to You and obey You.   Lord, I praise You for Your Word and ask You to continue speaking to me. When Your Word comes to me through a human agent, let me receive it.  I praise You. Let Your Spirit move on me. Teach me to abide in You always.   Show me anything You have told me in the past that I have failed to do. Lord, narrow the focus of my life, so that I magnify You. Give me courage to deal with idols and high places that I have tolerated but never removed. Let me restore Your altar in my life. I want to live in covenant with You. Teach me to seek You deliberately with all my heart and soul. Show me any area where my heart is divided. I want to obey You. I want to glorify You. Let my soul long after You. Father, send revival among Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.   --Adapted from Praying with Fire: Seeking His Presence through the Revival Passages of Scripture by Mark Partin. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Read Psalm 139 and praise the all-knowing one who perfectly knows you in every action, thought, and word (139:1, 4). Thank God for the comforting knowledge that he is with you wherever you go (139:5-6). Confess any attempt to flee his all-knowing presence (139:7-12). Commit yourself to learning more about these wonderful human bodies he has made (139:13-16). Ask him to give you a love for knowing his thoughts (139:17-18), an informed hatred for those he hates (139:19-22), and an “open-book” relationship with him (139:23-24). Pray that your nation will repent of willful ignorance of God’s thoughts and ways. Ask that the beauty and purpose of human life be accepted and promoted (139:12-16). Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

UR: A Lesson in Serving

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” - Matthew 25:40 (NRSVUE)

After a rough day at work, I stopped at the store. I got what I needed and chose the shortest check-out line. The man in front of me had a basket of groceries. I knew that he must have used food stamps to cover part of the cost because he told the cashier he should only have to pay for his can of soda. The cashier scrolled through the list, taking what seemed like forever. I just wanted to check out and go home.

Finally the cashier found that his food stamps could not be used to pay for his strawberries. The man asked her to check again. At this point, I thought, How much longer will this take? Then the man behind me said, “Give him his strawberries. I’ll cover it all.” The man with the food stamps told him, “Thank you. I just became homeless last night.”

I was ashamed of myself for my selfish thoughts and lack of action. Why had I not been like the man behind me and offered to cover this man’s purchase? This experience reminded me that we are to have compassion and humility, always moving to serve others as Christ commands. God will always provide us opportunities to serve. We need only to turn our thoughts from ourselves to the person in front of us.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, show us opportunities to serve you and those you place before us with compassion, humility, and a giving heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ODB:

UR:

Sarah Update below

Good Morning Faithful Traveling with Jesus and Each Other Friends of God! Oh yes! PTL! What an awesome God we serve and what an amazing flock of friends and fellow travelers he has gathered us with! PTL! Rejoice! Keep seeking, gathering, worshiping, processing and working at living and loving more like Jesus! He sure is amazing and truly loves us and is loving through us as well! PTL! Start with some praise this morning and keep praying into your day and what God has for you with much expectation and thanksgiving. Thanks Lord! Come! Fill us! Encourage us! Lead us! Love through us today! Amen!

God sure has been kind to me this week and has been encouraging me, affirming me and our ministries, and even given my joy in some storms. Don't you just love our mighty God? WORSHIP FLOWS FORM THIS WEEK FOR ME! Spend some time with open Bibles and devos and worship, receive and prepare for this day and god's great plans for you! He has blessed us with several expressions of church and opportunities to serve and worship. He has gathered an bunch of sold out, gifted servants as part of our Body. we are learning to allow God to grow us, mold us and love through us more and more and he is blessing us abundantly! Rejoice! And keep praying! I can assure you that God is leading us to revival and refreshing as we abide, trust and obey. he has given us great joy as we don his easy yoke and allow Him to shape us for all He created us to do. We are growing more and more into His image! Keep turning off the noise, stay focused on Him and allow Him o lead you today. he really does have some great things in store! Watch for them and join Him! I'm praying for you! Shalom and Joy!

Sarah Update:

Good evening, church family,

Haven't the last couple of days been great.  Loved those temperatures in the high 60's/early 70's yesterday!!

Here are a few new prayer requests and a reminder from Sunday's worship service, of the prayer requests that were shared.

Lisa Wenner - asked for prayer for Todd Becker - he had a reaction to a new medication and remains in the hospital.

But is feeling better.  Tomorrow/today, (depending when you are reading this) Todd will be having an aneurysm removal surgery. Please pray that all goes well.

Chris Muik - will be having his second surgery on Friday!  Prayers for all to go well and for healing.  Chris and Yvonne are very grateful for you and all your prayers and support.

Josie C asking for prayer for her dear friend, Dottie, who has had surgery and while in the hospital caught pneumonia. She is currently in rehab and doing better, but really hopes to be going home soon to her own home.

Darlene Geiger's sister, Sandy is not tolerating her radiation treatments well.  Prayers for perseverance and strength.

Mary Rehm's sister, Pat is dealing with heal issues.....prayers for healing and strengthening

Marshall Rehm's friend, Bob - has been diagnosed with cancer.  He was given 6 months to live. Please keep

him and his family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Dean Marks is asking for prayer for his friend, Larry. We have been praying for him, as he has cancer. His treatments are working and showing signs of improvement.

Larry and Enol Paul and the family say hi to all!! They are doing good. 

Sarah and Neen are asking for prayer for a young woman who is going through some difficult health issues currently. 

   She may be receiving some difficult news from her physician, please keep her and her family in your prayers. Her name is Abey.

Today was another day of great ministry at St Matthew's......many attended our Bread Ministry - Coffee. Donuts, Conversation day. (See Pictures on our Facebook page)    And tonight (Wednesday night) another great evening of gathering around the table with a good meal and study.  30+ in attendance !  

Praising God for what He is doing with the help of our church family!

That is all I have for now.....keep looking for and being open to God's lead in how you can help Him accomplish His

Mission all around you!

Choose JOY,

  Sarah

Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Keep building those gratitude lists!

Good Morning Forgiven, Thankful, Children of God! What a joy those three titles bring to us as we step into and operate from our true identity in Christ! I wrote a blog earlier and accidently deleted it right before hitting the send button. Fridays are typically my day off since I work Sundays. I was frustrated and decided to take a nap. Naps are lovely and mine are filled with prayer and praise often. They refocus and refresh. We try to follow the example of Jesus who napped, prayed and reloaded from the Father before moving into His daily routine refreshed and informed. May we do that also and operate more fully from our true identity, not for others expectations but for our Fathers and just as we are in Christ. Amen! 

I'm not going to recount my whole blog. I never can when this happens because I invite God to write it as I move from my quiet time with Him. What I remember is the encouragement from something I read, maybe a devo that included the Eph. 2:10 passage I often use to remind us of our true identities and purposes. We are God's Masterpieces made new in Christ t do all He planned for us from long ago. PTL and Amen! It sure encourages me when others speak into what God has been leading me to say and do! So start today with centering your spirit and mind by praising and praying through the song linked below. Then ask God to open his Word to you and meditate on Eph. 2:1-10. What's He saying to you? Who needs to hear that? Who might you process that with or invite along today? Then pray through the Connections blog and worship before you step into this day. You are unique and you matter. Ask God to lead you to your custom purposes today and this weekend. I'm praying for you and now heading to my day off refreshed and ready. Shalom! (I found the Eph. passage in ODB and added that too--God is speaking! Be still and know. Then prepare and go!)

Amazing Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwjTT2bqKk0 

Eph. 2:1-10 Made Alive with Christ

2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

ODB:

Connections Blog:

March 14 - O Lord, You Are My Strength Before you begin, sit quietly before the Lord. Ask to be given a “willing spirit”—willing to repent, to change, to listen, to obey.   Father, thank You for the promise of Your Word that those who hope in You will renew their strength. You alone are the source of all strength, for You are the ruler of all things and in Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to me. Strengthen me to stand firm, to stand for righteousness, to stand for Your kingdom! Like Daniel, may my life be characterized by integrity and “above-reproach conduct.” Even in the midst of injustice, may I be one who turns to You in worship and thanksgiving. May I always run toward You and not grow weary.   Empower me, I pray, to walk and not faint. Help me to not fear or be dismayed, regardless of the situations that I am in, or the condition of the world around me—for You are God and You hold all things together. Hold me together, I pray! Strengthen me and help me—uphold me with Your righteous right hand and with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart in all of His fullness—in all His fullness! Have mercy on me, Father and help me to lean on You and find my strength in You alone for my spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak and I confess to You, Lord: the weakness of my faith and flesh . . . O Lord, have mercy!   The undisciplined use of my mind . . . Renew and strengthen my mind by Your Word! The sin that I yet hold on to . . . Wash me and cleanse me. The timid ways in which I still live . . . I turn from a spirit of fear and trust in Your name!   Increase my faith. Destroy doubt and unbelief in my heart and mind and empower me to live boldly. May the sphere of influence in which You’ve planted me resonate with the praise of Your name and the imprint of Jesus be left on all that I touch. For Your name and Your renown are the desire of my heart. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray. Amen.   Isaiah 40:31; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Isaiah 41:10; Daniel 6; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Colossians 1:17; Ephesians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Matthew 26:41; Romans 12:29; Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:8   --Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Read Psalm 24 and praise God as the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord almighty! Give thanks for God’s power poured into your life and ministries. Confess any attempts to live and minister by your power instead of the power of the Spirit. Commit yourself to being a channel of his powerful love. Ask God to give you clean hands, a pure heart, integrity of soul and honest speech (24:4), so his power can flow through you unhindered. Pray that God will bring a powerful revival to your nation. Ask him to bring his almighty, King-of-glory presence into your neighborhood through your own example and words. Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Happy Donut Day! Join us 10-12 at the Bread Ministry today, eat some donuts and hang out and fellowship and maybe even pray with those God is sending our way. All are welcome!

Tonight 6-7:30 is dinner huddle and a Tim Tebow teaching. All are welcome! Bring a friend.

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Good Morning Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Gifted Followers of Christ! Amen! What an awesome night last evening as wee gathered to discuss and learn about our gifts and how they are custom tailored for who we are created to be in Christ. God does have some great things for all of us to discover and step into and He has gifted us for success as we learn who we are in Christ and how to do those custom made things He has for us. PTL!

Yesterday's Zoom Huddle discussed God's Word, our Bibles, and how to use them to pray, seek God and apply His teachings to our lives. We are more than hearers and are becoming doers of His Word. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. It sure was an active day of study and God encounters! Thanks Lord!

The Upper Room and Our Daily Bread (below) speak into some aspects of allowing God to use us to be His hands and feet and to do our parts in His Good News Delivery Co. Prayerfully engage with God through them and His Word. Ask Him to speak to your heart and guide your feet as you open His Word and abide in his love before entering this day fired up and ready for all He has for you. he does have some great things for you! rejoice! Seek and follow well today! I'm praying for you! Shalom! May we love as we have been loved! Amen. Really pray through and meditate on the connection blog at the end. It is our mandate! Live and love as Jesus loved us and like Him! Go! make disciples and do so with some friends! Amen

UR: Holy Tears (Have you ever sowed in tearful prayers? God hears your heart and collects your tears!)

Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. - Colossians 3:23 (CEB)

Due to our lead pastor’s absence one Sunday, the associate pastor asked several lay members to help with various roles during the worship service. I was asked to lead the congregational prayer time. Prayer is such an intimate and often emotional experience for me that I sometimes have difficulty holding back tears during prayer. Even so, I agreed.

At the appointed time, I stepped boldly to the podium, feeling confident I could keep my composure. I had uttered only a few words of humble praise, however, when my voice trembled and my chin quivered. Sure enough, tears escaped from my closed eyelids, and the tears flowed harder the more I prayed. Somehow I managed to finish with the Lord’s Prayer and make it back to my pew, but I felt remorseful and embarrassed by my public display.

Then I remembered that God doesn’t demand a performance from me. God wants me to serve with my whole heart.

Emotions are real and God-given, and tears can be a kind of holy water. Our Creator made me with a tender heart. It doesn’t matter what others think or say about my prayerful tears. Perhaps that day wasn’t my shining moment, but it was God’s.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, we are thankful that we have constant access to you through the power of prayer. Amen.

ODB:

Harvest Connection blog:

March 12 - By This All Men May Know A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34–35)   This passage, along with the Great Commission, was part of Jesus’ parting instructions to His followers. It was the essence of what He came to teach. It is similar to the second part of the greatest commandment—that we love our neighbor as ourselves. God is love, and His disciples are to be so known for their love for one another that this has been called the badge of Christians. People living outside the church see that love and they are drawn to Jesus. They want to get in on it. When we love, we let our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:18).   Do you want to know how we are to love one another? Like Jesus loves us. Paul wrote, “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). And in Colossians 3:12–14, he wrote, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” There can be no greater love. I think the phrase “bear with one another” is important. When someone hurts us or offends, we are not to try to get even. We are to bear it in love. That’s what Christ would do. And we are to forgive, as Christ has forgiven us.   There is a fellowship in the church that is like no other. We love to be together, for when we are together, Christ is in our midst. The fellowship is a precious experience, especially when we pray together, for Christ always lives to make intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25). I feel He is right there among us praying with us and loving us. That fellowship, love, and acceptance is the promise that comes from following this command.   One of the members of our Four Flats Quartet (which became Barbershop Harmony Champions of the Pacific Northwest), became a student at our Christian college right out of World War II, not because he wanted to be a Christian, but because he wanted to be with a girl who was attending there. For a long time he resisted the Christian gospel. When we sang in churches and an altar call was given, he said his knuckles got white because he was hanging on so tightly to the seat in front of him. One day, during spiritual emphasis week, I gave him a list of all the reasons I thought he should give his heart to Christ and asked him to turn the paper over and list the reasons he should not accept Christ. He fumbled with the paper for a while, then he said, “I guess there aren’t any.”   That night he practically dove to the altar and gave his heart to Jesus and later became an effective preacher of the gospel. I believe that was a situation where we virtually loved him to Christ. He couldn’t resist the love he saw in the believers on campus.   Lord, this command to love one another has to be so close to Your heart since it so closely reflects Your own nature and practice. Help me to love as You love. Pour Your love into my heart through Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I make excuses for not loving someone. Break through hard hearts that have resisted Your love, even as they have proclaimed Your name. Lord, please make the congregation I am a part of to become known as Your followers because of the depth of the love we have for one another.  --Adapted from Encountering Jesus: Praying the Commands of Christ into Your Life by Norval Hadley. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.

Good Morning Very Loved, Walking By Faith, Co-Laborers! What a joy to learn, grow and serve with you all! God is at work, using us, and leading us to His new things! PTL! Seek Him about that and your purposes and roles. Maybe process that with a friend or Sarah or me. God has some great custom made things for you to discover and grow into! And that works best in teams! Please pray for those of us starting spiritual gifts trainings tonight. God is leading us deeper and will unite us in His plans and purposes as we learn how to grow into the people we are created and gifted to be.

Pray for our Donut Day and Bread ministry tomorrow and our Wed evening dinner huddle and today's Zoom huddle. Any and all are welcome to any of our gatherings. Bring a friend!

Check out my devos below. God was sure speaking to me. I'm praying He does to you as well. He really loves you! Sometimes He stretches you to grow you and test your faith. He is always doing some new things and He has some ahead for you and us. May we continue to abide in His love, seek his wisdom and direction and earnestly pursue His best for us and for those He is sending our way. May we live and love more and more like Jesus and learn to walk in his ways better! Amen! He really does love you beyond measure! ALWAYS! How might you show your love to Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength today?

ODB:

UR: Love Never Fails

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. - 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)

One day I was feeling lonely and discouraged. I was struggling with unemployment and felt as if no one cared about me. I decided to go for a walk to clear my mind, and I noticed a beautiful flower by the side of the road. It was bright yellow with delicate petals and looked like a ray of sunshine amid the gray day. I felt a surge of joy and gratitude as I admired it. God had sent me this sign, reminding me of God’s love and presence. God had not forgotten or abandoned me.

I thought of 1 Corinthians 13, which describes God’s love. It is patient and kind. It does not remember the bad things we do. It never fails. This reminder comforted and encouraged me. I decided to trust God more and share God’s love with others.

I picked the flower and gave it to a passing stranger. She smiled and thanked me. I felt a connection with her and with God. God loves us with an everlasting love that never fails.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, thank you for your unfailing love. Help us to recognize the signs of your love that surround us each day and to share them with others. Amen.

Sarah Young:

Chuck Swindoll

Joyce Meyer

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! AMEN! Yes praise the Lord as you begin your quiet time! I heard some great comments on the last praise song from yesterday: Never Walk Alone. Here's a link to help start and focus you to abide in God's loving presence this morning Never Walk Alone  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlBKx8hlFp4    

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Good Morning Walking with God Christ's Ones--Followers of the Way! He is with us always! PTL! Because of our fear (reverence/awe) for God We constantly seek Him, abide in Him, worship Him and obey Him. Yesterday day we wrapped up the first half of our study of the book of Acts. We then applied what we learned from the early church and apostles and disciples of Jesus--followers of the Way--to our journey to grow as a dynamic movement of God and as His Body. It was sort of a state of the union message from God of what was, what is and what will be as we walk in awe, worship, grow in trust and obedience and learn to earnestly pursue Him and then allow Him to live and love through us. He does have great plans for you and us and we are continuing our journey to discover and step into those plans as we seek to honor and glorify our God. We are custom made and gifted for such a time as this! PTL! May we allow Him to fill us and lead us to his best and perfect plans--earnestly! Amen! Remember: In this life Christ is all that matters and he lives in us and wants to live and love through us and grow us into His image! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Will you cooperate with His Spirit?

This morning as I was wrapping up my quiet time, as I usually do, I spend some time praying and listening as I engage with God through the Connections/Harvest Prayer blogs. Man, God sure was speaking and tying up His message to us from yesterday! Please start there this morning and abide in awe of our Most High God, our Creator, Savior, Lord and Shepherd. What's He saying to you this morning and what will you do about it? May we earnestly seek, abide, refresh and reload before we step out in faith as we follow Him to his perfect plans for the day and week ahead. He loves you and custom made you for such a time as this! PTL! He has some teammates for you to seek, discover and journey with. He has a custom fitted yoke just for you. Put it on and walk with Him today and always! Amen! I'm praying for you and for Him to lead us to His best and perfect plans as we rebuild the walls, stand firm in Christ and change the world around us. COME Lord! Lead us! Amen!

I attached my other devos below for you to continue your time abiding in God's loving presence. he wants to refresh and lead you today. he does have great plans for you created in love! You matter to Him and His Church! Don't lean on your own understanding. How can we even begin to fathom the unfathomable God? Seek Him earnestly and acknowledge Him in all your ways and He WILL direct your and our steps! Amen! It's time to soar!

Connections Blogs:

March 10 - Fearing God Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11).   The one fear that delivers humans from all other fears is the fear of God. When this fear is rightly understood and lived by, we need not fear anything else. Every day we must choose between the fear of humans and the fear of God. The fear of God comes to us at the moment of salvation. Just as we receive the Spirit of God, God places in us His fear (Jeremiah 32:39). When we fear God, it shows in how we live. To fear God means to cherish an awesome sense of His greatness, His grandeur, and His excellence. We act on what we have in our hearts.   One of the greatest gifts we can leave our children, and the next generation, is a godly testimony of faith in Christ, as evidenced by how we fear God. If we have had a foundation of faith laid for us, praise God. If we have not had this, we still must press on in Christ Jesus. We are accountable to seek God and honor Him with all our being.   Asa was a king who had a mixed heritage. His great-granddad was King David, the man after God’s own heart. His granddad was King Solomon, a man compromised with lust. His father was King Abijah, who was idolatrous. Even though they all served God with their mouths, it was their actions that proved their faith or their faithlessness and whether they truly feared the Lord.   In the midst a crisis, against innumerable odds, Asa and all of Judah sought after and cried out to God, and they were victorious. The “fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all” (2 Chronicles 14:14). The fear of the Lord is one of the enablements of God for us to face the enemy and overcome. In a lost person, the fear of the Lord is consuming dread of God. When Asa and his armies attacked the cities around Gerar, the fear of the Lord, a dread, came on all those pagan villages.   They were literally afraid of Jehovah God, and with good reason. But for Asa and Judah, the people of God, the fear of the Lord was not a dread, but a reverential awe of God. They cherished that sense of the greatness and grandeur of God. When we have the fear of God in our lives, we reverence, respect, and honor God. We will seek God.   Such fear of God means we know the character of God. He is God, sovereign, holy, great, and awesome. We understand our obligation to God: to love Him, obey Him, and trust Him. Finally, as we fear God, we gain a pervasive sense of the presence of God. This sense of God’s presence has a controlling effect on a person because we know He is with us.   Asa served God when God’s people were under attack by the world (2 Chronicles 14:9). It is no different today. What are we to do? We are to do the same thing that Asa did. We cry out to God, asking Him for help. He is Jehovah Ezer (Psalm 33:20), the Lord our Helper. Then we are to recount the greatness, faithfulness, and power of God in our past.   He saved you and sustains you. He has provided for you and He has protected you, even when you were unaware of it. God often tests His children for the purpose of building their faith in Him. The test is never meant to make us rely on our flesh, friends, or family. We are tested so that our faith in God increases. We are tested to show if we will seek the Lord or forsake Him. We are tested so the fear of God can be displayed in our lives. When the other nations heard of the power of God and the victory He gave Asa, they feared God also (14:14). This fear was a terror because our God is an awesome God.   Lord Most High, for revival to come, I need to seek You. I praise You for the seasons of rest You give. Let me not waste them or use them for selfish reasons, but allow me the sense to use them for times of kingdom building and preparation for further service, just as Asa did (2 Chronicles 14:1). Father, will You manifest Your fear in my life? It has been there since salvation, but allow it to be seen and recognized by those around me. Grow Your fear in me to completion (v. 14).   --Adapted from Praying with Fire: Seeking His Presence through the Revival Passages of Scripture by Mark Partin. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God for being a welcoming Father. Thank him for preparing an eternal home for all who believe (Jn. 14:2). Confess any unwillingness to show Christian hospitality to others (1 Pet. 4:9). Commit yourself to the practice of hospitality (Rom. 12:13). Ask God to help you separate Christian hospitality from self-absorbed “entertaining.” Pray that the members of your congregation will excel in showing mutual care and intentional acts of love toward each other and to outsiders. Ask God to move your church out of its “comfort zone” when it comes to showing hospitality. Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

Sarah Young:

TWFYT:

UR: Like An Eagle

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

A cacophony of crows drew my eyes heavenward. A dozen or more were flying above a bald eagle, taking turns diving at the eagle’s head. It made me think about the pressures of ministry that were barraging me. When I had to dismiss a volunteer, my decision caused a ripple of dissent within the ministry. Friends were calling me to offer their advice. But I felt harassed and weary.

Above my head, the eagle appeared not to notice the annoying crows. Its speed and altitude never changed when the crows swooped within inches of its head. The eagle continued to fly a straight course. I wanted to be like that eagle, to remain swift and unfazed. I was reminded of today’s quoted scripture: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” I closed my eyes to sit in God’s presence, and God assured me that I had done the right thing. When I opened my eyes a few minutes later, I felt confident and able to face any challenge.

Spending time in God’s presence renews our strength when we feel harassed or weary. With God’s help, we can move forward with speed and endurance like an eagle.

Today's Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the peace of your presence. You give us the strength and hope to rise above any struggle. Amen.

ODB:

Did you spring ahead? See you at 10 for worship and the last day of Children's Church study on the Armor of God.

Please let me know today of you can attend the Spiritual Gifts study with dinner at 6 Tues. or noon on Zoom Wed. This study will last about 3-4 weeks.

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Good Morning Growing Like Christ Children of Our Abba! AMEN! May we be about God and His business as we allow Him to transform us into the people we are created to be and doing what we are created to do for such a time as this. That all begins as we still ourselves at His feet, spend time with Him and in His Word and then move out refreshed, prepared and ready to incarnate (bring alive) Christ to those God is sending our way and empowered to do the things He has planned for us each day. He really does love you and has an easy yoke custom fitted for you that leads to His best and perfect plans. Meditate on that and worship. Be still and soak in His love and character. Then go live and love like Jesus. Prepare your hearts to worship today as well. He is worthy of all praise, glory, honor and obedience! Amen!

Below the Harvest blogs are a great place to begin as you still yourself and process things with Abba. There is a flow through my devotionals today (below) that has really spoken to my heart and is a word from God to some of you as well. Turn off the noise. Be still. Seek, listen and receive. He is speaking His love over you and wanting to encourage you and direct your steps for today. What's He revealing to you? Let's process that together or with some friends. And let's pray into those things together.

I wish I was allowed to share pictures of our grandkids. There is one of my granddaughter cuddled on my lap reading a book. It reminded me of how God wants us to sit with Him and engage with Him through His Word. In the picture, you can feel the love of the Father who said, "Let the children come to me." and then He blessed them and sent them on their way. He wants to hold you close, speak to your soul, encourage and train you to go live and love like Jesus. It's His refreshing easy yoke. It's laboring with Him as you put on His character and follow Him to the perfect things He created you to do. Oh Lord, HELP! I want that! Draw us up on Your lap and speak Your love and encouragement over us. May I be as happy to see and spend time with you you as my granddaughter is with me. Lord may I enjoy You and life with You and be about You and Your business. Thank You! Forgive me for being like Martha too often. May I be more like Mary. Abiding in You and Your Word. Recharge me and renew my mind for the day and week. May I come with a spirit of worship today that flows into the week ahead. I need you! Come! Breathe life into me. Fill me to overflowing with Your heart, mind, Spirit, Love and wisdom. May I produce good and lasting fruit as I become more like You while following You daily. May people look at me and see Jesus at work and want that and then help me to lead them to You and make disciples like Jesus. Thank You for the plan You have created me to do. May Your Kingdom come and will be done in, through, and around me for Your glory alone! I need You! Come! Have Your way with me! Amen!

I'm earnestly praying for you! Please pray for me as I pour myself out for Christ, while seeking to honor God's healthy rhythms. Pray I abide and move from His presence to good fruit in the Way of Jesus. He has big plans for me, you and us! PTL! May we earnestly pursue Him and allow Him to lead us to become His dynamic movement of disciple makers. Amen! May we steward well all of God's blessings and cultivate good soil that will produce good and lasting fruit! What's your part? Let's talk about and process that! God is speaking to your heart right now! Listen, receive and then share what you are hearing/sensing. And then go! Live and love like Jesus today!

ODB:

Sarah Young:

UR: Breath of Life

The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. - Ezekiel 36:34 (NIV)

Where I live, the weather can be very humid, but our plants are accustomed to it. On the other hand, the winter season can be very cruel. This year, during a particularly cold season, my plants were devastated. The patio where I keep almost all my plants looked like a wasteland. At a glance, they looked dead. I began to cut the dry twigs and stems, though I wondered if any of this work was worth it. When I came to my favorite plant, I saw what I thought were the tiniest sprouts on the side of each dry stem. Thinking I might be mistaken, I took a closer look. Lo and behold, I could see the miracle of life. The plant was greening — slowly but surely.

I paused to reflect on parallels in my own life. How many times have I walked through a spiritual desert alone, almost lifeless, bereft of hope? Yet, somewhere deep in the innermost part of my heart, the Lord always offers whispers of hope. The ways of the Lord are beyond my understanding, but what I do know is that it is the Lord who infuses new life in me. Where there is life, there is hope. God is the life source — ever-present and working miracles in us and through us.

Today's Prayer

Giver of life, in the desolate seasons of life, surround us with your presence. When it appears that all is lost, renew our hope. Amen.

TWFYT:

Harvest:

March 9 - Renew My Mind Father God, You who make all things new through the power of the Holy Spirit, renew my mind, I pray! May I not conform to the things of this world, but instead may I be continually transformed by the renewing of my mind with Your Word.   Lord in many ways I have been lazy and undisciplined in regards to the use of my mind. Forgive me, I pray, and renew my mind. I lay before you my use of my computer and technology, my TV and DVD viewing, the things I read . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have entertained philosophies of the world that are contrary to Your Word. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the way that I have rationalized behavior or condoned values of this world. . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have watered down the truth of Your Word in order to condone my sin. Lord forgive me and renew my mind. I lay before you the excuses that I have made for my thoughts, attitudes, and actions that are contrary to Your Word . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   I have allowed fear and anxious thoughts to overwhelm me. Lord, forgive me and renew my mind and make my heart steadfast. I choose now to cast all of my cares and fears onto You and ask that Your peace be poured out on me . . . (Pause and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.)   Give me, I pray, a fresh hunger to study Your Word, that I might be equipped for every good work. And Father, in a world of watered-down truth, empty philosophies, and hopelessness, empower me by Your Spirit to be prepared to answer everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have. May Jesus be seen clearly in my daily living. Strengthen my faith, Father, for Your Word says that if I do not stand firm in my faith I will not stand at all. O God, help me to stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 4:7-8; 1 Peter 3:15; Isaiah 7:9   --Adapted from Pray the Word: 31 Prayers that Touch the Heart of God by Tiece L. King. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Prayer Points Praise God for being perfectly just in all his works. Thank him for loving righteousness and justice (Ps. 33:5). Confess any ungodly bias you harbor toward any people. Commit yourself to viewing others with a loving, Christlike attitude. Ask God to help you value justice more highly in all relationships of life. Pray for the uprooting of governments which oppress their citizens and withhold justice from them. Ask that justice will “roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24) in countries held in the grip of lawlessness.    Prayer Pointer “He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.” —John Owen Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount. Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com

REMINDER to Spring Ahead tonight! Turn those clocks ahead and get to bed early to catch up.

Worship tomorrow 10am

Tues 6PM Spiritual Gifts Dinner Huddle (So far only one responded. Email me if you are able to attend)

Wed. 10-12 Donut Day at Bread Ministry; 6PM Dinner Huddle

Thurs. 6:30 Support Team Zoom

Sat. 10-1 Clothing Closet

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Good Morning Surrendered Followers of the Way! Yes Jesus is the Way. Prov. 3:5-6 reminds us to not lean on our own understanding but to trust God and He will direct our steps. I think we all can use help with that, or at least time to time. What voices are you listening to? Turn off the noise and focus on God. Rest in Him and allow Him to direct your steps today. Peter sank in the choppy seas when his focus shifted from Jesus. He is our Leader and the Way. Keep your focus on Him and may we encourage and spur each other onto the works He has planned for us! Shift your fears to trust and joy as you start lifting praise. Check out the devos below as you abide and prepare to follow Jesus, THE Way, today! I'm praying for you! Yes turn off the noise, abide, revive, and walk in grace to His best for you today! Amen!

TWFYT:

 

UR: Wind and Waves

When [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” - Matthew 14:30 (NIV)

For a while in my life, I struggled with anxiety. It had become so bad that it was difficult for me to visit the local supermarket for groceries and other necessities. Usually, I would just grit my teeth and push through, but sometimes the fear became overwhelming. It seemed silly to fear something so mundane, especially in comparison to the bravery of Peter as he stepped out onto the waves. Forget jumping out of a boat! I could hardly take a stroll down aisle 9 for laundry detergent.

I found it comforting to know that even brave people like Peter can fall when facing frightful wind and waves. But ultimately, it wasn’t Peter’s bravery that helped me conquer my own fears. It was realizing that what truly mattered was that he kept his eyes on Christ. It wasn’t until Peter took his eyes off Jesus, focusing on the things to fear, that he began to sink. Admittedly, that’s when I begin to sink into my fears as well.

Through Christ, I have come a long way in my anxiety and have made strides I never thought possible. I do my best to focus on Christ rather than the wind and waves and take comfort that he will be there to catch me if I fall. Christ will always be there to save us, no matter the storm.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, in you we can do all things and overcome any obstacle. Help us to keep our eyes firmly focused on you. Amen.