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Saturday, May 31 2025
Good morning. Thanks for your prayers. I am improving but surely have a ways to go yet. I slept over 20 hours from yesterday into this morning. I'm still tired and have a month of sleeplessness to catch up on. We thought it best that I stay home today, so we are. Praying for Mike as he brings the Word, for Sarah as she leads, and for all of you to worship in spirit and truth. I still have a couple of specialists to see, but hope to see you next week.
Shalom!
Saturday, May 31 2025
Reminder: Tomorrow after worship is our monthly 2 Peas in A Pod Brunch. Bring a friend! Pray for Mike as he brings God's Word to us.
Update: Pastor Don is still struggling with health issues. We will continue to be on spring break this week. Tues Zoom Huddle and Wed Dinner Huddles will tentatively will resume the first week of June. Stay tuned for updates. Let everyone know that our Rita's gathering is now Wed June 4th and that will kick off our summer gatherings.
Good Morning!
Today think about those, who like Jesus, were willing to lay down their lives for our freedoms and paid the ultimate price. Pray for their families to be cared for. Pray for our wounded warriors and God's provision of healing and help. Thank God that we live in the land of the free because of the brave. Ask God how He might want to use you to bless a family of our freedom fighters and to be one who leads others to freedom in Christ. Ask for help to live and love like Jesus and courage to do so. Amen!
Keep worshiping, praying and preparing to follow Jesus. He has great plans for you! May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you an may He give you His peace. Amen!
Shalom shalom! Perfect peace to you and yours! Amen!
Friday, May 23 2025
Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday! Yes! PTL! What does that mean to you? Tell God and others about the many blessings of knowing, loving and being forgiven by Jesus!
Thank you for all your prayers! God heard and continues to answer! We had a great birthday day with Karen and I finally slept decent last night. Time for day two of celebrating! Keep covering us, worshiping and just loving God and others. he has plans for you today!
Good Morning God's Good News Delivery Company--Disciple-Multipliers! God's got a plan just for you and a role to play as He gathers us, prepares us and sends us to love like Jesus and make disciples! You are God's masterpiece, made new in Christ to go do all he planned for you! yes PTL! be still and know. Reload and go. Find some friends and seek God together too. keep praying and believing! he hears and answers and is even preparing 30 new ones for us to mentor and grow with! Yes PTL!
Gotta fly but check out the two days of I to We devo. What's God saying to you? How is He preparing and equipping you? Who are you processing, praying with and preparing to go and love with? he has great plans! Discover and step into them in faith and obedience today. Maybe even invite someone to brunch Sunday!!! I'm praising God for you, our gathering and unity and our focus to go love well and multiply disciples of Jesus! Praise and pray with me and ask God to reveal His plans for you. Amen!
I to We
ODB: Time to believe, live and represent the truth today. Open your heart and mind to truth and pray for others to be open too! Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life! be Jesus!
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Jack hates school. The lectures on algebra, grammar, and the periodic table bore him. But he loves building houses. His father takes him to work in the summer, and Jack can’t get enough. He’s only sixteen, but he knows about cement, shingles, and how to frame a wall. What’s the difference between school and construction? Love. Jack loves one and not the other. His love fuels knowledge.
As believers in Jesus, we’re to “love the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Paul says a satanic figure will use “signs and wonders” (v. 9) to deceive “those who are perishing” (v. 10). Why are they perishing? “They refused to love the truth and so be saved” (v. 10). Their failure to love the truth blinds them from knowing it. They’ll be duped (v. 11).
What do we know? That important question depends on a more basic one: What do we love? Our passions incline our heart and direct our mind. We cherish what we love. We protect it and seek more of it. If we love truth and wisdom, we’ll search for them as precious gold (Proverbs 3:13-14; 4:7-9). They’ll guard us. “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you” (4:6).
What is true wisdom? Jesus says it’s Him. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Our most important question is who do we love? Love Jesus and you’ll learn His way. He’ll guard your life by guiding you into His truth.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it important to love the truth? Why does Jesus say He is the truth?
Dear Father, please fill my heart with love for You and what’s true.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Embracing the truth is essential for believers in Jesus, for He’s the one who is the truth (see John 14:6). Judas Iscariot is a classic example of one who had the opportunity to fully follow Christ but didn’t. The life of Judas and the teaching of 2 Thessalonians have several things in common. First, Satan is at work in both. Luke 22:3 says that “Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot,” and 2 Thessalonians 2:9 notes that “the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.” Furthermore, John 17:12 refers to Judas as “the son of destruction” (esv), a term also found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (esv ). Satan’s agenda is deception that leads to destruction. We can avoid his deceiving ways by loving Jesus and embracing His truth.
Arthur Jackson |
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UR: Jesus is Our Healer (YES! PTL! Receive it and pray for healing for others. God has been using us to heal! and that is drawing people to Him. keep it up! Grow your faith!)
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” - Mark 9:24 (NIV)
In 2020 I met a man who was recovering from a double organ transplant. He joined our faith community, but because of the fragility of his condition he connected with us primarily through online worship, phone calls, and handwritten letters. Once a month he and I would meet to share conversation and Communion. He always marveled at his healing and reminded me that being alive is truly a miracle.
I think of those visits when I consider today’s reading and marvel at the restored life Jesus gave the child after his years of suffering. I am also amazed at another healing in the story — the restoration of the father’s faith. After witnessing his son’s pain since childhood, this parent found his faith wounded and in need of being made well. His heart-wrenching confession, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” led Jesus to have compassion on the father as well. He assured him with the faith-building words, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
When challenges wound our faith, Jesus meets us with compassion and a willingness to help. Jesus restores our faith with his healing presence and life-giving words. He makes it possible for us to believe again and to know with deep assurance, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your compassion in our times of need. When life challenges our ability to believe, help us to trust your loving care for us. Amen.
Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Church! We are the Body of Christ--His Temple! Love the reminder from the Upper Room that we need Temple maintenance! I know I sure do and often pray that I could do that Romans 12 :1 thing--
Help me/ us Lord to be a living sacrifice! Help us to die to self, take up cross, renew our thinking and follow Jesus well. Thanks! Come! Have you way with us and prune and prepare us for the great fruit to come! Thanks! May all we think, say and do be an act of worship and glorify and point to you! Unite us as Your Body on mission and in prayer! Come! Thanks! Amen! (Maybe we should start Zomba or some kind of exercise classes? Chair Yoga?)
God is for us! Who are you depending upon? Are you leaning on your own understanding? Demanding your way? Resisting the temple maintenance. Ask for help to lay it all down, humble self, die to self, take up cross and follow Jesus today in the strength and faith God has given you! He's there, with you! PTL! Reach out. Connect. Abide. Then you will be ready t thrive! PTL and Amen!
Off I go! Have an awesome time with the Lord and processing with some friends! God is for you, with you and has great plans! PTL! Abide! Know shalom!
UR: Temple Maintenance
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. - 2 Corinthians 6:16 (NIV)
One day during morning devotions, I was thanking God for living in me. I thought about Paul saying that our bodies belong to God, calling the body God’s temple. When I went to do my exercises that morning, I decided that I would call them “temple maintenance.”
Words are powerful. Temple maintenance is a lot more fun when I am thinking about doing it for God than it was when I just called it exercise. Now I have not missed a day, except for Sundays.
It was a natural progression to start calling my morning devotions “inner-temple maintenance.” Doing the outside maintenance is still a hard job, but I am hoping that as I continue, it will get easier. The joy that I receive throughout each day from my glimpses of God and hearing the Holy Spirit speak to me are the blessings of keeping a well-maintained temple.
Today's Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for the miracle of the Holy Spirit living in us. Give us the courage to tell others the difference the Spirit makes in our lives so that they can experience your love and grace. As you taught us we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.
TWFYT
Friday, May 23 2025
Another sleepless night in Boyertown, so here we are! Good morning Good News Bringers! yes please Lord!
Two things to share today: The Upper Room about God's Good News and a flash back to out Good News Deliver Company handout from Sun. What's God saying to you? Who are you processing with. How are you praying into this? What might God be leading you to do or to whom might He want you to share that Good news? Meditate on those things while I try to get a nap before I hit the road at 8.
God's got some great plans custom made for custom made you! Step into them and rejoice! Shalom friends!
UR: God's Good News
[Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” - Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV)
Years ago at an evangelism seminar, I met a young woman named Shanthi who shared her amazing story. After hearing about Christ, Shanthi decided to enroll at a theological college to learn more about Christ’s ministry. Later she started a school for young children where she taught them Christian songs. When the parents asked Shanthi about the meaning of the songs, she was able to share the gospel with them. Her ministry grew, and with the help of the villagers she built a church.
Her story reminded me of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. She was convinced that she had met the Messiah because he told her everything about her life. She was overjoyed and ran back to the town to tell everyone. Because of her testimony the whole town came to see Jesus and hear the good news. (See Jn. 4:1-30.)
Evangelism is about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to help others experience the forgiveness, love, and grace of God. Just like Shanthi and the Samaritan woman, may we never shy away from sharing the good news of God’s love with everyone we meet — by word and action.
Today's Prayer
Loving God, thank you for your gift of salvation. May we faithfully spread your love through what we say and what we do. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Handout:
Friday, May 23 2025
Happy Thurs. Bloggers! And a special sweet 16 to my love, Karen! Happy birthday honey! (Please pray for me. We have fun plans for today! It's 2 am and I've been up two hours not feeling well and some stomach issues too. God will make a way! I so want to bless her everyday, but especially today!)
Good Morning Loving Like Jesus Friends! Today began with two devos on agape love--dying to self, sacrificial love like Jesus loved us. I pray to be able to do this constantly. Help us/me to agape like You! Help me/us to lay down our lives take up cross and follow Jesus well. Amen.
Let's just focus on that today (well everyday would be good too!). There are threads through this to our other devos. I'll let those for you to digest and process with God and your teammates. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as Jesus loved you. That should keep us busy for awhile! I'm praying for you, me and us to be known by our love! Amen!
Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Patient Teammates! Well I hope so, as we patiently wait on the Lord together, as we patiently abide in the Vine, as we patiently persevere in prayer and faith. Help us Lord! Maybe some of you have been patiently awaiting this blog (yeah right!) I had a very bad sleepless night and finally got some sleep around 4. Late rising had me wanting to skip my quiet time and blog and just get to the busyness of the day. And then I said to myself, "What are you thinking! Get down to your prayer room and be still in His presence awhile. Thanks Lod! Great time with Him and a Word or two for you! I love God and my time with Him! He's always speaking and guiding and wanting to help or include me in something! PTL!
So what has God been saying to you? has He spoken to you through the message yesterday about us all having a role in His Good News Delivery Company? Has He been revealing something to pray about or maybe a teammate or four to partner with? Today's Our Daily Bread speaks into the importance of partnering together and being better. Check it out prayerfully below. God is calling us to partner up. I think about the woman's prayer teams that just formed. How cool is it to know you have a team to pray with, cover you and pray for God's Kingdom to come! We are better together and really do need each other. Below you will also find a photo of the handout from yesterday to use to talk with God as you seek your part or how to pray. We are also called to become a House of Prayer for the Nations. The I to We devo below reminds us of the importance of abiding and of serving and praying together. Check it out and ask God to use you and direct your steps. Finish up with the connections blog and prayer starters. Yes God is speaking and He has some custom plans just for you that will lead you that sweet spot in Christ of being who you are created to be, doing what you are created, gifted and empowered to do, and of partnering with some great teammates. God loves you and has gathered you with us to go share the Good News, to pray and to encourage each other! PTL! So what's your part? Who are the one or two God is bringing to mind for you to team with or to pray for or to reach out and love on? Abide, listen and follow well today! I'm praying for you!
here's a link to the closing song from yesterday: Faith to Save: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoSHljGO8rc
ODB
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Meggie’s ten years of drug use kept her in and out of jail. Without a life change, she’d soon return. Then she met Hans, a former addict who almost lost his hand when a vein ruptured due to his substance abuse. “That was the first time I cried out to God,” Hans said. God’s answer prepared him to be a peer specialist for an organization that coordinates recovery for jailed addicts.
Called Stone Soup, the program is helping an American jail provide formerly imprisoned people with support to reenter their communities. Through the plan, Meggie moved into a sober-living house and has stayed sober. Hans now helps her and others with job placement, educational options, treatment, and family resources—a coordinated approach.
The Bible describes the strength of wise partnering: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). However, “pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (v. 10).
Like the “Stone Soup” folktale, where a hungry traveler invites townspeople to each share one ingredient to make a delicious soup for all, the Bible confirms we’re stronger and better together (v. 12). God’s plan is for us to live in community, helping others and receiving help in return. That’s no fairy tale; it’s truth for life.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
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How can pooling our resources help us serve people better? What can you give to make a “stone soup” for your community?
Please bless me, dear God, to join others to help well.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Ecclesiastes portrays the sobering realism about life on earth “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 4:1)—that is, life experienced within the limits of our humanity. “The Teacher” (1:1) exposes the futility of “chasing after the wind” (4:4, 6, 16)—the vapor of what we often assume will bring fulfillment—work, wealth, power, prestige, pleasure, learning, and more. He’s resigned to our powerlessness in the face of oppression, poverty, illness, and death. In today’s passage, the Teacher contrasts the harsh reality of those who are utterly alone in this “meaningless” existence with those who have a helpful companion on life’s journey (4:9-12). On this side of eternity, a true friend can make all the difference. From end to end, the Bible instructs us to care for our neighbor as ourselves, even if that neighbor is someone we don’t know or one we might view as unworthy of our help (Deuteronomy 22:1-3; Luke 10:25-37).
Visit ODBU.org/OT022 to further study in Ecclesiastes.
Tim Laniak |
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Handout:
I to We:
Connections
May 19 - Perseverance Must Finish Its Work
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One of George Müller’s firm beliefs was in the simple admonition to confide in God with the trust of a child, and to wait on Him to answer. Miraculous responses to prayer came almost daily as Müller waited for God to answer in His time. Throughout his ninety-three years, eight months, and five days, Müller learned to trust. A favorite text from James 1:4 hung on his memory’s walls: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Müller had asked God to increase his faith and to sustain his patience and God heard and answered. Indeed, he insisted at the very end of his life: “It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer, until we obtain an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently, we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.6 (emphasis added)
Father, how often I have quit praying too soon thinking that I have done all that I needed to do. Forgive me for my lack of faith, and for not pressing into Your heart for the answer that You would delight to give if I would truly expect You to answer. Forgive me for the mechanical nature of prayers that are spoken out of duty rather than delight! Help me to persevere by pressing into You, and to spend more time listening for Your voice. I want to keep company with You, Lord, in all of my waking moments.
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 24, An Historical Role Model of Personal Passion in Prayer by Karen O’Dell Bullock). This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise the Lord, “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6).
- Thank God that you have been forgiven of all your sins because of Jesus’ work for you.
- Confess in detail your sins, asking for a greater awareness of sin in your life.
- Commit yourself to putting on “the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).
- Ask “to be made new in the attitude of your [mind]” (Eph. 4:23).
- Pray that no animosities or rivalries will be at home in your congregation, and that your congregation will experience peace and wholeness.
- Ask that you and your fellow Christians will prize the healthy relationships which you have with each other.
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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) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Persevering and Persevering in Prayer Co-Laborers! Amen! Whoever started the saying about the Golden Years must've been talking about someone in their 30's or 40's. Right? Life is hard and gets harder as we age. BUT GOD! He is with us always! He knows the good plans He has for us. Often those good plans come through some stretchingly hard things. Our part is to continue the journey in faith, trust and to keep praying for His Kingdom to come, will to be done and to prepare us to respond as He plans. His plans are good despite the hardness of the journey and as we age, I think, we come to understand more and more how He is working things togethjer for good and are more able to persevere in faith and prayer. We see His hand at work and know His loving presence more intimately and that sustains us and guides us to whatever may come. So keep praying, following and being open to His faithful love and plans. Amen! help us Lord!
Check out the thread for this through the devos below. God is speaking and does have some really good, even though often hard, plans for you and us to discover, grow into and persevere through until he calls us home. Seek first the Kingdom of God! be still and know! Prepare and follow well, my friends! And find some teammates to travel with and uphold. He is working all things together according to His perfect plans and timing and those plans include you, me and all who will come and all who will persevere in faith. Amen!
UR:
Trust in Trying Times
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. - Romans 8:28 (NRSVUE)
One of the hardest tests of faith I’ve experienced was when I suffered starvation. While kept in solitary confinement as a pre-trial detainee, I was given no food for eight days straight. I cried out to God, “How can you possibly use this to help me?” After my trial, I was housed with other inmates, and I soon understood how my painful experience had changed my perspective in a positive way.
In the prison cafeteria our food portions are small, so there is no shortage of hungry adults here. It breaks my heart to see the look of sadness on a man’s face when he can’t afford to buy more food to supplement the cafeteria’s small portions. When I have money, God moves me to purchase extra food to share.
I believe God used my hardship to soften my heart. It made me more compassionate toward others who suffer from hunger. I don’t always understand how God is at work in my life, especially during difficult times, but I have learned to trust that God is working for my good — to develop my character and make me more Christlike.
Today's Prayer
Dear Father, help us to trust you when we are suffering. Show us how to be more compassionate to others. Amen.
TWFYT:
Harvest prayer:
May 18 - Approaching the Throne of Heaven
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A. W. Tozer pastored a church in Chicago for many years. One time after a minister arrived in Chicago, Tozer called him and said, “This city is a devil’s den. It is a very difficult place to minister the Word of God, and you will come up against much opposition from the enemy. If you ever want to pray with me, I’m at the lakeside every morning at five-thirty. Just make your way down and we can pray together.” One day the minister was troubled and about six o’clock he went to the lakeside. He found A. W. Tozer prostrate in the sand worshiping God. Tozer was a prophetic voice to the church of the twentieth century, and his message grew out of private intimacy with God.
Intimacy with God will always be found in a fresh, living relationship with the Father. That relationship necessitates that we have a time and place to regularly and consistently meet with Him.
When we come into God’s presence we must approach Him with genuineness and sincerity. We must never attempt to impress God with our spirituality and religiosity. Jesus taught His disciples to be careful about how they approached the throne of heaven. He said, “When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). God is not impressed with the loudness or softness of our voices. He is not impressed with the beauty or multiplicity of our words. He is impressed with the sincerity of our hearts.
Holy Lord, as I come into Your presence, may my heart be completely pure. Draw me into Your throne room through a living, active relationship with You! I don’t want my words in prayer to be empty and religious talk.Guide my heart into purposeful, intimate conversation that is perfectly aligned with Your will and not my own!
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit. This book is available at Prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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Friday, May 23 2025
Good Morning Praying Friends! I sure could use some prayer! I think we all can at times too, maybe daily. It's 2 am. Another sleepless night. I've seen two specialists with no resolution to the issues that put me in ER last Sun. I am feeling better...tired but somewhat better. The real specialist I need to see is the pulmonologist and they have no openings until July. So I appreciate prayers for healing, deliverance and for a much earlier appointment to open up. Thanks. Praise God for carrying me through vacation and for a week of forced rest this week. Thanks!
Since I couldn't sleep the thinking was to do my quiet time early and try to get some sleep after. Seems like the pattern has been to finally fall asleep between 12:30-2:30, so I'm right on track! In my tiredness, I still had a great time with the Lord. he is speaking to me and I know will to some of you as you engage with our devos below. What's God saying to you? I'm hearing that He is affirming us and wanting to lead us to his best. Are you up for that? Don't lean on your own understanding. trust God and allow Him to lead. he is capable and has great plans for you and us. And don't stop praying! I'm praying for you and believing God has some amazing things ahead as we rest in Him. Jesus said for the weary to come and find rest for our souls. Amen!
See you Sun. God has a Word for us! he has a plan for all of us! let us pursue Him and those plans wholeheartedly and as His Body! Amen!
ODB
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On my free day in Paris during a visit a few years ago, I had some time to roam around the famed city by myself before meeting a friend by the Eiffel Tower for dinner. All was fine until my phone’s battery died. I didn’t have a map, so I wasn’t sure where I was going, but this city girl didn’t panic. I just continued to walk along the Seine River and kept my eyes on the towering Eiffel Tower. My plan worked until I got closer to the landmark, which somehow disappeared behind the surrounding buildings.
I was astonished that such a large structure could be hidden in plain sight! I finally realized I needed help, so I asked for directions and found my friend.
Life can be so unpredictable. As we face obstacles and challenges in life, we can ask God for help and direction. Asking Him helps us not get lost along our journey or be tempted to take detours or to quit. Especially when life seems hard or confusing, we can turn to God for guidance.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon encourages his readers by telling them to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
As we seek God’s wisdom through prayer and reading the Bible, He’ll guide us. Let’s continue to trust Him and follow His lead.
By Nancy Gavilanes
REFLECT & PRAY
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Why is it sometimes hard to follow God? How can you stay better connected to Him?
Dear God, thank You for leading and guiding me.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The book of Proverbs is presented as a life manual from a father to his sons (see 1:8; 3:1; 4:1; 23:15; 31:2) to teach them how to live a life that honors God. He instructs them to trust (3:5; see 22:19), obey (3:6; see 8:32-33), and fear Him (3:7; see 1:7; 14:16). Living a God-honoring life means seeking His ways and doing His will. There will be times when we won’t understand His ways (Isaiah 55:6, 8-9), but we’re to trust Him because He’s God and therefore trustworthy (Deuteronomy 7:9). Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, warns that our human intelligence is never enough: “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7 nlt). We’re not to trust in our own wisdom because “those who trust in themselves are fools” (28:26).
Visit ODBU.org/OT021 for further study on wisdom in this course on Proverbs.
K.T. Sim |
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UR: Capable Hands
All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSVUE)
Today I crocheted a butterfly. I found the instructions on the internet and followed them carefully, hook in hand. However, nearing the end of the instructions, I hesitated. Things didn’t look right at all. Then I read the last line of the instructions, which said to fold the work in half once the crocheting was done. When I did so, I held in my hands a perfectly lovely butterfly!
It can be like that in our Christian walk as well. There is no denying it — sometimes life doesn’t look at all as we think it should. The Lord responds to our “corrections” in Isaiah 29:16, “You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, ‘He did not make me,’ or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’”?
The Lord’s hands are capable. We can trust in his power to bring about transformation that will make our hearts rejoice. After all, the instructions are his and so is the skill.
Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the way you made us. We trust in your capable hands. Amen.
TWFYT:
Friday, May 16 2025
Oh yes! PTL! What praise, thanksgiving and gratitude we lift for all Jesus has done for us, for our forgiveness and being made right with God and for our eternal hope! Yes praise the Lord! Thank God I'm forgiven!
Good Morning Cleansed, Purified, United, Body that Loves like Jesus! Amen! We can be that an much more as we humble ourselves, praise and pray, listen and follow and live our lives as an act of worship. Join me!
I have to fly to another specialist appointment, but I have to share some of what God was saying to me today...
First of all, I cannot get Phil. 2:2 out of my mind. I believe God wants to add that verse to our foundation, guiding verses for our lives and our church. "Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." Please meditate and talk to God and process with your partners that key verse for us. be wholehearted, loving, and focused on God's plans! is that us? It can be! Pray for that to come to life and ideas, dreams and vision for how God plans to lead us through that. he loves you and us and has gathered us to go love wholeheartedly and do together what He has planned. Amen!
Check out the flow through the devos below. What's God saying to you? What will you do about it? Who are your teammates? How can your choices be an act of worship and obedience today? God has great plans for you for such a time as this! Choose to step into them wholeheartedly and with some friends! I'm praying for you! I'm praising God for you and us! And I am so thankful for God's love, for you, and for our Body that is choosing and wanting to follow Jesus wholeheartedly! Amen!
ODB
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Recently, my brother Scott acquired our dad’s military service records from World War II. As I studied the pages, there was nothing startling or shocking—nothing about who Dad was. There were mere facts. Data. It was interesting to read but ultimately dissatisfying because I didn’t come away feeling like I learned anything new about Dad.
Thankfully, in giving us a record of the life and work of Jesus, the four gospels are much more than just data. They are descriptions that reveal who Jesus was in His time on this earth as well as what He did and said. In Mark’s gospel, that record was for the purpose of proving Mark’s thesis statement: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (1:1). Immediately, Mark tells us how John the Baptist testified about this Messiah. John said, “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie” (v. 7). Mark’s account makes it clear that Jesus is the Son of God. As John the disciple adds in his own account of Jesus’ life, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
The evidence of Jesus’ life is abundant. These questions remain: What does He mean to you? How has He changed your life?
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
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What do you think of the evidence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? How might you tell someone about your response to it?
Father, thank You for the clear record of Your Son’s life.
Learn more here: ODB.org/personal-relationship-with-god.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Mark begins his gospel account declaring that Jesus is “the Son of God” (1:1). Then he moves to introducing the Messiah’s promised forerunner, John the Baptist (vv. 2-4). In contrast to the gospel of Matthew, which was written to a Jewish audience and is filled with messianic prophecy, Mark wrote to a gentile audience and offers fewer Old Testament references or allusions. One of the few Old Testament quotes in Mark (1:2-3) is from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 and establishes from the outset that Mark’s story of Christ lines up with Israel’s story and how it would find fulfillment in its promised Messiah. Mark also tells the reader up front that John the Baptist wasn’t the Messiah but was preparing the way for one “more powerful” than himself (Mark 1:7). John the Baptist’s self-awareness is fleshed out more fully in the gospel of John (see 1:20; 3:22-36). He knew his role as one pointing to the Messiah who had come—Jesus.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Blessing Others
The Lord had said to Abram . . . “I will bless you; I will make your name great, andyou will be a blessing.” - Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV)
Our oldest grandchild is a senior in high school. He is a very talented young man. He plays the saxophone in his school’s marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble, and symphonic band. He not only plays at school but performs solos and duets at his church and other churches in our county. He has even provided wedding music for one of his teachers.
Naturally, we are very proud of our grandson. We are proud because he has been blessed by God with his amazing musical ability, and he is willing to share his blessing with others.
Many times God gives us talents but we fail to share them. We hide them and keep them to ourselves. Maybe we’re afraid we won’t be good enough and lack confidence in our ability. Maybe we don’t have the courage to step out of our comfort zone. Whatever the reason, God is always encouraging us and wants us to use the talents we have been given to bless others.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the many talented young people in our world who are willing and able to use your blessings to bless others. May our talents be shared in love and praise to you. Amen.
TWFYT
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