Devotions
from The Woods @Wanamaker
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"I remember . . . the devotion of your youth." Jeremiah 2:2
Am I as spontaneously devoted to God as I used to be,
It is a great thing to think that Jesus Christ has need of me - "Give Me something to drink."
the time when you were – "I remember . . . the acts of love and obedience you have shown me in the past." Am I as full of the extravagance of love to Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning?
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When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. (Matt. 6:7–8)
When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, one of the key concepts Jesus wanted them to know was that what you pray is far less important than if you pray. What Jesus wanted his followers to understand was that you don’t need to pray with a lot of words, or to pray the “right” words. In fact, what Jesus describes kind of pulls the rug out from under you. The reason you don’t need to go on and on is because your Heavenly Father already knows what you need even before you ask. So why pray? Why should we ask if God already knows what we need? Have you ever wondered that? That’s a natural question. And I think Jesus wants his followers to ask that question. It’s right where he wants them to be when they come to that point in their prayer journeys. But there’s another question you need to wrestle with. Shouldn’t God already know our needs? If God is truly God, shouldn’t he already know our needs? In other words, if you have to inform God of your needs, is he really God? So, if you’ve ever struggled with knowing what to pray, or trying to come up with the “right” words, don’t worry. God already knows what’s on your heart and mind. Because that’s the amazing thing about this God we serve. He’s God! He’s all-knowing. And we get to talk to him like he’s our Heavenly Father. So take some time today and have a conversation with your Heavenly Father. -Pastor Michael Guy Fawkes, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Marcus Brutus, Robert Hansen, Aldrich Arne, Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot all belong to a nefarious group called traitors.
We all know before you can be a traitor, you first have to be trusted. And, before you can be trusted, you have to be seen as trustworthy. Everyone suffers at least one bad betrayal in their lifetime. It’s what unites us. The trick is not to let it destroy your trust in others when it happens. The opposite if betrayal is loyalty. Indeed loyalty is something we all cherish and eagerly embrace; but we are left with the question of “What really is loyalty?” It would seem that loyalty is formed in many places; adherence, allegiance, bonding, consistency and honor to bring it into focus. God the Father is the perfect example of loyalty. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him, and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” Few things on this side are more attractive than loyalty. You will seldom experience loyalty until you are willing to be loyal the way you want to experience loyalty. Pastor Holmes Honest Prayers - Week 1
Isaiah 38:1-8 (Common English Bible) June 27, 2021 Bottom Line: We can pray to God when we have a need and ask him to help us. · ANY reason is a GOOD reason to turn to God in prayer. · God is BIG enough to handle our prayers. · God LONGS for our prayers “…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” I Cor. 9:22
There is a young woman I’ll call Rosemary, who lives with no transportation in a dismal trailer house in a lonely area. Taking food to her weekly, I began to develop a relationship with her and her daughter, Emilee. We have come to genuinely love each other, and I look forward to their weekly hugs (even knowing I once received a head lice hug from Emilee). Soon I felt comfortable enough to invite Rosemary to church and offer the whole family a ride. Her response was, “Oh, thank you, honey, but my husband and I are pagans.” Leaving her house that day, I began to pray, “Lord, please send someone to minister to her.” God’s response was immediate: “I sent you.” Oh my goodness! I wasn’t expecting that! I have a granddaughter about Emilee’s age, and the day came when Rory accompanied me to deliver lunches. Rosemary and Emilee were thrilled to meet her, and Rosemary said, “We’ll have to arrange a playdate.” To be honest, I did not react with enthusiasm. As I drove away, again the Lord was insistent: “Why NOT a playdate?” So, with Rory’s parents’ permission, the playdate is on. On Father’s Day, I decided to treat Rosemary’s family to a surprise of fresh donuts, and Jared asked if he could go along to meet these people he’d been hearing about. Rosemary’s husband answered the door, and with astonishment he and Jared greeted each other by name and with hearty handshakes. It turns out they have a connection in an entirely different setting! God is clearly surrounding this darling family with love and prayer. There may be somebody in your sphere of influence like Rosemary; somebody the world has written off and Christians avoid. But God loves them! He wants them in his forever family! How much effort is one soul worth? A little bit more… Nell In Luke 6:20-23(ESV) Jesus shared what have become known as the Beatitudes. He told His disciples “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” I believe he was encouraging them to choose to take joy in the journey, despite whatever circumstances might arise. Some of the most rewarding and challenging times in my life came while I was in a position of authority in an international Christian recovery organization. Part of my duties included speaking in a variety of denominational churches regarding our ministry. Receiving applause was a common occurrence, even if the audience was just being polite. Later, when the Lord moved me back into inner-city mission work, the applause pretty much dropped to zero. I can’t say that I was hated, but preaching in a mission chapel was just not the same. The problem with that was that I found myself craving that applause. In a very real way, I had become dependent upon the approval and praise of other people. The danger was not the applause itself. The problem arose when that became a life goal – to receive praise for myself. Like many, when I read the Beatitudes, I usually stop after verse 23 rather than going on into the following verses, where Jesus pronounces several woes. When I recently found myself craving human praise, the Lord brought verse 26 to mind, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets [emphasis added].” This got my attention and helped me refocus on the Lord and lifting Him up. I have a promise of reward that is yet to come. The provision already available to me is more than adequate. Truly, the applause of heaven is much more valuable that the applause of men. Pastor Bill Be A Crazy Farmer
This last week I had the incredible opportunity to go on a work and witness team to Cactus and Dumas, Texas. It was a blessing and a privilege to be a part of what God was doing in these small towns. We put on a VBS and a gymnastics camp which God used us to reconnect people who had been disconnected from the church. We did a lot of physical labor including painting, digging, planting, moving gravel, installing carpet, and more which God used to create a more comfortable space for these ministries to happen. I could go on and on about the different things God did that week, but this is supposed to be a short devo. I want to share one of the things that God taught me on this trip. Every night before bed we met as a team and debriefed about our day. On our last night, Pastor Todd (One of the pastors we worked with on the trip) shared some insight about the Parable of the Sower that I had never thought about before. Matthew 13:3-9 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Jesus shares later in the chapter the meaning behind the parable being how different people apply the Gospel in their lives. How some are receptive to the Good News and how some are not. But how often do we think about the farmer in this story? You see, the farmer is kind of a crazy farmer. This parable doesn’t begin with the farmer preparing the soil. It begins with him throwing seed all around his field, seemingly not caring where it ends up. The farmer is us, followers of Christ. And our commission as Christians is not to prepare people. It's not to make sure they are the perfect humans and then tell them about Jesus. No, it is our job to spread the good news of Jesus Christ no matter who it is. It is to throw seed (the gospel) all over and not care where it lands. We can do this by doing big things like going on a mission trip. However, it is really in the simple things where we begin to see the biggest change. Offering to help someone, taking someone to lunch or eating with them, being friendly to that person who is difficult to get along with, praying with someone… It doesn’t matter who the gospel falls on to. As long as we are doing what Christ has called us to do. I encourage you to ask God to show you the people who need to hear and see the Gospel in your life, and to give you the courage and strength to go and spread it like a crazy farmer! Pastor Blake For years, I have rejected the phrase “God will never give you more than you can handle” in favor of the phrase “God will never lead you where His grace cannot sustain you.” Well, over the last few weeks, my strength and faith have been tested in ways I have never experienced before. I feel like everything I’ve ever said about God’s grace and an individual’s faith are being put to the test, that this is where the metal meets the road. I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard either my wife or I say “when it rains, it pours.”
On father’s day, we went to our favorite Chinese restaurant. We have a fun little ritual where my wife picks out everyone’s fortune cookies for them at the end of the meal. When I opened mine, it had two of the little ‘fortunes’ in it. They said “The day only gets better” and “It can’t rain all the time.” Never doubt that the God we serve is still the God that created the Heavens and the Earth (Gen. 1:1), and in Him is life, which is the light of men (John 1:5). That God never has and never will abandon His sons and daughters. Sometimes we just need reminded of that.Pastor Jared Walk in the Same Way: A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
1 John 2 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. From a kids song by Frank Hernandez: I wanna be just like You, Jesus I wanna do the things You do I want my words to always be true I wanna be just like You The Hymn writer, Thomas Obediah Chisholm, voices it like this: I have one deep, supreme desire, that I may be like Jesus. To this I fervently aspire, that I may be like Jesus. I want my heart His throne to be, so that a watching world may see His likeness shining forth in me. I want to be like Jesus. When I was young and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would answer, “I want to be like Jesus.” And I still do. I am not very young any more, but as I walk with my Savior that is still my desire. How about you? Let me close with this chorus as our prayer: O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. Corrie Ten Boom grew up near Amsterdam in The Netherlands and was part of a well-respected Christian family. After the Nazi invasion in 1940, the Ten Booms hid an estimated 800 resistance fighters and Jews in their home, protecting them until they could be moved to safe houses.
In February 1944, the Ten Booms were betrayed and put into imprisonment by the Nazis. During their imprisonment they were placed in solitary confinement and interrogated. Even in these harsh and harrowing conditions Corrie led a nightly prayer group with a smuggled Bible. Corrie was eventually released by what may have been a clerical error (some coincidence eh?). It would save her life and allow her to go on helping others, as well as teaching on prayer and forgiveness. In a teaching on Effectual Prayer Corrie told her audience about catching a cold while living in a concentration camp. Her sister Betsie told her to pray and ask God for help. Corrie laughed at her sister. Betsie still prayed for God to give Corrie a handkerchief. It was just a simple, practical prayer. After she said Amen, a friend arrived and gave Corrie a gift of a handkerchief. “How in the world did you know that I needed a handkerchief?” asked Corrie. Her friend replied, “There was a voice in my heart who said bring a handkerchief to Corrie Ten Boom.” Corrie continued, “Can you understand what a handkerchief tells you in such a moment? That there is a Father in heaven who hears it when on a very small planet, the earth, some one of his children prays for an impossible small thing, for a hankie, and that Father in heaven tells one of his other children – give a handkerchief to Corrie Ten Boom.” As we approach Father’s Day this weekend, may your heart be filled with a true sense that you are being heard by a Heavenly Father who cares about even the simplest of your needs. I encourage you to pray with the quiet confidence that you are in conversation with your Abba Father. Love and Prayers, Pastor Donny YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
Romans 10:2-4 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. The statement “You Don’t Have to do Anything” still echoes through the corridors of my mind, after one of my high school teachers expressed her profound direction to my questioning why we had to learn certain mathematical equations; which to me seemed to be of little value. I’ll give you the conclusion to her directive later. But for now, it is enough to just consider her statement. Paul began as a crusader to eradicate all Christians, until he yielded to God’s plan, then was transformed into a mighty Christian soldier for Christ. Jonah was stubborn, refusing to go to Nineveh, until he met up with a great fish that looked upon him as fish bait and a free lunch. Although Jonah chose to do nothing, that did not deter God’s plan for Jonah, thus saving him and sending him on a mission to spread God’s message. David made a plethora of mistakes, ran away even hid in a cave to avoid both his king and God. But even there he could not hide from God’s persistent presence. All in all, David was still a man after God’s heart, choosing to follow Him. We, you and I accomplish God’s purpose for our lives as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and His road map of truth for our life; the Holy Bible. Ananias was fearful of choosing to do something rather than simply staying in the comfort of doing nothing, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15) Timothy received a spiritual gift, for Paul tells us this, “For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.” (1 Corinthians 7:7) All Christ followers have a calling and purpose, but we must each decide for ourself to come to know God’s special purpose, uniquely created and tailored by God’s hands for our life. It takes faith, and be assured God will make us uncomfortable until we step out and fulfill that purpose. A purpose that transcends beyond this life. God has gifted you with the abilities to live out your purpose. And now, the conclusion to the rest of the statemen: “You Don’t Have to do Anything”, “But, Your Grades Will Show It!” Jesus has told us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” To simply do nothing is to never realize the purpose God wants to reveal to, in and through you. You don’t have to do anything, but your life will show it. So, choose to be different, be willing to say “Yes” to the Lord and He will reveal His purpose to you. Then yield to His will, and walk according to the purpose He has called you to. God Bless you in your journey! Sincerely Yours in Christ Rev. Jerry Schmid A Tribute to My Heavenly Father
As a young adult growing up, I had a burning desire to know my birth father. I had never met the man. I just knew of him or at least knew of the man that was supposed to be my father. As a child, I craved the love and affection of a loving father; someone that would tell me how pretty I was or how glad he was that I was his little girl, like other fathers told their daughters. I spent many a day daydreaming of that perfect father – the one that would one day come into my life and sweep me off my feet, only to wake up to the reality that I didn’t really know my birth father, and the father that I had been unfortunate enough to know was abusive. I began a search for my father when I was twenty eight years old, only to find out what I had always envisioned would never become a reality. One day while sitting in a church service on Father’s Day, I was listening to a message that really spoke deep into my heart. The pastor was describing a Father that would always love you unconditionally, always be there for you; never abuse you. A Father that would meet every need you ever would have; a Father that would never leave you or forsake you. A Father that loved me enough to give me the best gift a Father could give – His one and only Son. I realized there in that pew for the first time, how blessed I was and didn’t even know it. God had given me a Father, a Heavenly Father that could give me what no earthly father could ever give. I also realized how blessed I was to have husband like God had given me. He was that kind of father, the kind I always dreamed of having, to the children God so graciously blessed me with. He was the best father any child could ever want. I never searched again for my birth father. It didn’t matter anymore. God had healed my heart and had wrapped His loving arms around me and I no longer had a desire for an earthly father. So today with Father’s Day fast approaching, I say a huge thank you to my Heavenly Father who has been the best Father I could ever have. And a huge thank you to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with a father for my children like Arnie was. Arnie is no longer with us but his memory still lives on and he left a great legacy to all of his children. The time he spent with his children and the memories they created together are something that will always remain. They are the fathers today to their children because of the example he set before them. So if you are a father, cherish those children God has entrusted into your care. Spend quality time with them and make great memories with them that will last a life time. But most of all point them to Jesus and to our Heavenly Father by the words you say and the way in which you live. Some day when this life on earth is finished, we can be assured that when we stand before our Heavenly Father we will all have to give an account of what type of father or mother we were. May you live your life so that when that day comes, you will hear the words,” Well done, thy good and faithful servant! “ Blessings, Pastor Fran "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own:” 1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV
There are no such things as a private life - "a world within the world"- for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ's sufferings. God breaks up the private life of His saints,
Through those doorways --- God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son.
world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. Pastor Dick When I went to Timor to spend time as a volunteer missionary, I thought I was going to save “those people”. Misconception one. I thought I’d be teaching “them”. Misconception 2. I thought I was better than them. I believe I’ve shared before, my lessons begun the first night I arrived, when the ladies from the church gathered and shared things I would never have heard here, free of judgement or ridicule. I learned transparency and grace.I learned waiting. The first month was slow going. We hadn’t started classes yet, I was tired of waiting, I wanted to start the work. But in the waiting I was learning, and God was already doing the work.
I learned what true self-sacrifice is as I watched this man, (my future husband) work hard only to get $5/week which he’d turn around and pass out to the young men at the youth center and only keep $1 or less for himself. I watched as he gave a naked man one of the two shirts he owned and put it on him when he stumbled into one of the church services one Sunday morning. I learned about fasting. I learned patience, flexibility and humility. I learned to see people through Jesus’ lens. And most of all I learned, I can’t do the saving, only Jesus saves. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” I came back forever changed. We are in Cactus, Texas this week sharing in God’s mission. We are not here to save the people, or teach them. We are here to be the hands and feet of our Savior. What He does with our efforts is His to decide. I anticipate that our group will come back more “changed” than those we will be serving alongside. Pray for us this week as we represent our church and serve God’s children! Blessings, Pastor Delinda 1 PETER 5:1-11 ● Humility begins when we LET GO. ● Humility continues when we LET GOD. ● The devil’s power is no match to God’s mighty HAND.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 For 12:9)
Most of the time when I think of strength, I think of physical strength and endurance. I think of working out and exercising. But if your physical health and appearance is all you invest your life in, then you’ll miss out on something that lasts forever—the Kingdom of God. And you can’t fight for God’s Kingdom using physical strength alone. The men and women who are really strong—the ones who are world changers—are those who honestly admit their limitations and weaknesses. In fact their refrain is, “Lord, I am weak. And I need you.” You see, in God’s Kingdom, being strong isn’t about having a six-pack of abs, the perfect CrossFit regimen, nor is it about succeeding in life and winning people’s admiration. Being strong begins with knowing the source of one’s true strength. It’s declaring, “There is a God, and I’m not him!” It’s recognizing your weaknesses and turning to God to empower you to be the person God made you to be. The devil wants to make the mighty fall. And he’s the master of making the strong become weak. Sometimes he does this by making us comfortable with a mediocre life that’s familiar and doesn’t require much from us. On the other hand, God is the master of making weak people strong. And God’s power is no match for the devil. God extends grace to the humble. Our challenge is to live boldly with the strength God provides. - Pastor Michael Truth or Consequences
“Pilate therefor said to Him, so you are a king? Jesus answered; you say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilot said to Him, What is truth?” At first blush, we would have to say Pilate is asking a reasonable question. After all, most of us voiced a similar question at one time or another. Merriam Webster defines truth as: “The body of real things, events and facts. A transcendent fundamental spiritual reality.” Mr. Webster seems to be reminding us truth is not absolute, unless it is based on the absolute! It is at this junction of creative thought where we begin to encounter consequences. Things, events and judgement propositions when advanced as truth, when in fact they are not, can quite often lead to negative unintended consequences. For any truth to be absolute it must be based upon absolute infallible core or source. I think I can say without equivocation, the Bible, God’s Inspired Word, meets that standard. The fair question Pilate asked (although I doubt he was serious in pursuing an answer) is one we should be asking in the tumultuous world we find ourselves! There are three common things to consider when searching for the truth of anything:
Pastor Holmes “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” Ezekiel 37:4-5
I am urgently praying for a mighty movement of God’s Spirit in the community of Montara! This morning I asked the Lord, “What more can we be doing out there?” And the answer from my heart was, “Really, not much.” I reviewed in my mind all we’re currently doing and what we plan to do this summer, and I honestly can’t imagine that a small body of believers could do much more. So it’s completely up to God. But isn’t it always? I have no idea what causes God’s Spirit to break out in a spectacular way, but I’m grateful to have been a part of it in the past, so I know what it looks like. At the time I came to know Christ, a great revival was taking place in the local church to which He led me. Many people were being saved; the newly-saved were being taught to follow Christ, and people were regularly being called to full-time ministry. It was an amazing time, and in a period of five years I walked through all of the above steps. The pastor was amazing, the people were loving, and discipleship classes were Biblically sound. But it seems to me that those things were the result of the revival, not the cause. Purely and simply, revival is a working of God’s Spirit, quickening the dead hearts of sinners. That’s what I’m praying for in Montara. Will you pray with me? Thank you! Nell Ritchey In Exodus 13:21-22 we are told that Israel was led from Egypt by the presence of GOD himself: “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”
This was an immensely powerful, tangible presence of the LORD who defended his people from Pharaoh’s army but also provided guidance. Conditions in desert areas can vary greatly as well as quickly. Temperatures can become dangerously hot during the day and quickly drop to dangerously low after the sun sets. The LORD’s presence provided his people with shade by day in the heat of the desert as well as warmth at night with the pillar of fire. Later in the journey, when the Tabernacle was built, His presence continued to be with them. Our GOD has promised to provide for our needs as well, “And my GOD will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) I think this is especially important for us to remember during the times we are in now. Our faith needs to be focused on our all-powerful, Creator GOD much more than on a government that can change frequently or on a fluctuating economy. Just some food for thought. May the Lord’s grace and peace be upon you and yours. Pastor Bill Faith to Move Mountains
Manjhi is very well known in India as “The Mountain Man.” He lived in a settlement in the Gehlaur Hills and worked as a miner. Tragically, his wife had an accident and fell off a cliff while trying to bring food and water to Manjhi while he was at work. Due to the treacherous terrain the nearest clinic was 40 miles away, and he was unable to save his wife. Manjhi vowed that he would never let this happen to anyone again. He picked up his hammer and chisel and spent the next 22 years carving a path through the mountain. In 1982 he finished the 30 ft wide, 25 ft high, and 360 ft long path through the mountain. It cut the walking distance to the next settlement from 35 miles to 10 miles. Manjhi’s determination possibly saved the lives of countless people. Hearing this story gave new meaning to Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Manjhi had faith. I don’t know if he was a follower of Christ or not, but he had faith that he could carve a safer path for the people in his village. In fact he had so much faith that he picked up and used the smallest possible tools you could use for a job like that because it is what he had. Faith requires us to act. It requires us to act on the things we know to be true even though it may seem difficult or somewhat impossible. How do we know this? We know because God has proven himself time and time again. What do you need to have the faith to do today? What is the impossible task that God is calling you to do? What are the tools and resources around you, even things as small as mustard seeds, that you can pick up and use to do amazing things? Pastor Blake
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
The main idea in the focus of religion is
When you pray
It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer. But when ye pray use not vain repetitions . . . (v.7). God does not hear us because we are in earnest,
We pray pious babble, our will is not really in it, and Then we say God does not answer; we never asked for anything. "You shall ask what ye will," said Jesus. Asking means our will is in it. Whenever Jesus talked about prayer,
But remember: We have to ask of God
Pastor Dick Chill! A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
So I just added another tee shirt to my wish list. TRUST GOD and CHILL In Psalm 46:10 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” So let’s take some time and practice that right now… Be… Just be. Be present. Be ready. Wait for it. Be still… Quiet the distractions. Take time to let them go. Be still and KNOW! What is it I think I know? What do I really need to know? Let go of lies. Hold fast to truth. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. KNOW that I am GOD! He is God. He is able, He is good, He is loving. Choose to trust Him! Ask Him to help you trust. He finishes with the promise I will be… “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Whatever it looks like, the truth is God wins. He WILL BE exalted. So surrender. Trust. Chill! He’s got this. HE is GOD! Exodus 14:14 is another reminder: The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 Here is some music to help you to Be Still…and Chill. Breathe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnjeMwxFuBA Love One Another (John 13:34a)
Love One Another (John 13:34b) Love One Another (John 13:35) Love One Another (John 15:12) Love One Another (John 15:17) Love One Another (Romans 13:8) May Your Love Increase (1 Thessalonians 3:12) Love Each Other (1 Thessalonians 4:9) Love One Another Deeply (1 Peter 3:8) Love Each Other Deeply (1 Peter 4:8) Love One Another (1 John 3:11) Love One Another (1 John 3:23) Love One Another (1 John 4:7) Love One Another (1 John 4:11) Love One Another (1 John 4:12) Love One Another (2 John 5) Perhaps God is trying to make a point. Or maybe I just need to live the point. Love, Pastor Donny |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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