 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5 The other day Pastor Holmes was reading this passage during one of the recent funerals here at Wanamaker Woods. I have memorized this passage. I have written songs about his passage. I have even in my youth translated line by line this passage from the original language. All of a sudden in that sacred space, where people were encountering God in the midst of their grief, I felt like I was hearing this passage for the very first time. I know it has been a powerful passage for people reflecting on their faith in the midst of death. I also have come to know that it is a powerful passage to reflect on as we journey right now through life in this world. This vision of the future is full of echoes of Eden; a river, the tree of life, God’s presence with humanity; but there are a few important differences too. Instead of a garden we have a garden city. Instead of the sun fueling life, God is the sole source of life and light. The curse of death has gone and instead of just two people seeing God face-to-face, the nations enjoy His presence. God’s story ends with an expansion of where it began; the whole of creation in perfect peace(shalom) with God and itself. Do you ever wonder why God gives us these pictures of the end (or new beginnings depending on how you look at it) in the scriptures. They seem to function in two major ways for the people of God. Firstly, they function as promise. Even as we struggle in a world that is groaning beneath the weight of brokenness and mortality, John’s vision brings future hope into our daily present. When you are daily taking it on the chin, you can keep your chin up because in the end Jesus wins the battle. It also functions as paradigm. Since this is the kind of world God is preparing for us, we live towards that vision now. The book of Revelation shows us that the destiny of the community of God’s people is to be fully inhabited by heaven. As a follower of Jesus, filled with His Spirit, I am a forerunner, a citizen of this future hope here and now. I carry the shalom of God into a troubled world that desperately needs it. I daily pray…Your Kingdom Come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and then I go out and seek to be an answer to prayer. This morning as you think about the tree of life, with healing leaves. Where does someone I know, need God’s healing emotionally, mentally, physically or relationally today? This morning as you imagine the river flowing from God’s throne, bringing life everywhere it goes. Where in my community are we experiencing death and decay? Picturing God’s life-bringing action as a river flowing into this place or problem, I pray for it now. Would you close with me in reciting the Lord’s prayer today? ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed by Your name, Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven…’ Matthew 6:9-10 Pastor Donny
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 Weather Faith
Have you ever tried to change the weather from rain or snow in to the pleasant warmth of sun and breeze? How’d that work out for you? I like to call it “Weather Faith”; changing the weather into just exactly what we desire, rather than what it is or will be. As I tell my family, stop worrying over the weather, we’ll take what we get, like it or not. Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. If farming teaches anything, it teaches one simple rule, “Weather Faith”; you might as well be patient because God is in control of the weather. He is not a forecaster; He is the Master of it all. James 5:6-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. You can till the soil, plant the seed, but cannot supply the weather to make it grow. Likewise, you can prepare a person to know Christ, but only God can change their heart that by His Grace they receive salvation, then by their yielding to God in faith, can they grow and produce fruit. Whatever you are longing to see come to fruition in your life or the lives of your family, try having a little “Weather Faith”; take it out of your hands and place it in the only one who can, the only one who is in total control of whatever Weather of life comes your way. Romans 8:27-29 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. You are Chosen by God, have Weather Faith and allow God to do the rest! Yours in Christ, Rev. Jerry Schmid  THE EXCLUSIVENESS OF CHRIST
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Is it not humiliating to be told that we must come to Jesus! Think of the things we will not come to Jesus Christ about. If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words - "Come to Me." In every degree in which you are not real,
to do is to "come." "Come to Me."When you hear these words you will know that something must happen in you before you can come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do, anything at all that will put the axe at the root of the thing which is preventing you from getting through. You will never get further until you are willing to do that one thing. The Holy Spirit will locate the one impregnable thing in you,
While all the time God has stood with outstretched hands not only to take you, but for you to take Him. Think of the invincible, unconquerable patience of Jesus saying, "Come to Me." Pastor Dick  I do not understand what I do... For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:15,19)
I'm as human as the next guy. One minute I'm seeking God in prayer. The next minute I'm in a very unnecessary argument with my wife. I can worship passionately at church, only to criticize someone on the drive home. One day I'm very involved with my kids and helping around the house. The next day I'm too busy to notice them. Many days I wonder if I'll ever get it right. Not only is it hard to serve God fully when things are going my way; it's even harder to be faithful to him when things don't go my way. You likely know what I'm talking about. You try to get ahead financially, but then your car or the air conditioner or your dishwasher breaks down, and you slip even farther behind. You work as hard as you can to get promoted into your dream job, only to get passed over for that annoying person you can barely stand. More and more it seems that when you decide to live for God with all your heart, everything bad breaks loose in your life. Which makes it really hard to do what you know you want to do. The more you fight to get things right, the more frustrated you become. That's why I think we must always remember this simple truth: Jesus has already won the battle for you. All you have to do is follow his lead. -Pastor Michael  Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Our local church espouses four core values. Know – God intimately Grow – In community with others Serve – With a ministry team Share - In Christ’s mission I have personally been pursuing what it means to know God intimately. It is apparent it is more than just having a relationship, although that is where the journey begins, it is about being in a relationship. The term "being" implies not only a relationship, but also a commitment to the relationship. It implies a daily renewing and investment in the One you really want to know. Matthew 7:21-23 has captured my attention in a big way. It emphasizes that we can say and do all the right things and yet miss the mark. This reality has helped me to focus my efforts in not only knowing Christ, but also focus on Him knowing me! Pastor Holmes  My husband and I follow a cartoon strip called “Pickles,” heartily identifying with the elderly couple depicted there. The two race in and out of hilarious situations, always good for a laugh. In a recent series, however, they encountered a challenge common to man, and their way of dealing with it, while humorous, spotlighted the type of attitudes that tend to creep in when we let our guard down.
Earl and Opal had each lost an item belonging to the other. Being equally at fault, neither felt justified in being angry with their mate, but oh, how they wanted to! So their solution? Completely independently and unknown to each other, they embarked on a race to find the items they had lost, hoping to claim the “right” to be angry with their spouse. I laughed through that entire series, and still find myself giggling when I think about it; it was just so human. And that’s exactly what it was – human! Certainly not godly. It’s human to look at things from a negative perspective, and to resort to anger when our “rights” or our boundaries have been violated. That’s the sin nature rearing its ugly head. But God calls us to rise above the world’s way of thinking and look at things from His perspective. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:18. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 5:8. There are dozens of other Scripture verses that focus on the same theme: choose to rise above. Take the high road! Challenges come; problems arise. But God’s will for us is NOT that we look around for someone to blame, or to claim our “right” to be angry. God’s will is that we look beyond the circumstances to the joy set before us and live a life of love. Nell Ritchey  In Matthew 6:25-33, Jesus Christ is teaching about not letting anxiety and fear dominate your life. The Phillips translation ends this passage by saying in verse 34, “Don’t worry at all then about tomorrow. Tomorrow can take care of itself! One day’s trouble is enough for one day.”
A lot can happen in one day! I believe this passage is a great stress-buster for handling life in today’s world. A lot of stress is caused by unfounded fears and anxieties (or maybe even real ones) that grip our hearts. I propose the solution our Lord offers us: Live one day at a time, trusting God. Why? BECAUSE WE CAN’T CONTROL TOMORROW! Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” It is very easy in this culture to put our faith in government, economy, social contacts, etc. – but our primary focus must be on GOD’s will and plan. Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” I’m not saying to not make plans; that would be foolish. But neither is it wise to get too attached to those plans. The best way is to have faith in GOD’s will, which will never let us down. We can only live this life one day at a time! Although I learned this principal long ago at traditional secular recovery meetings, the concept has been reinforced numerous times in my Biblical studies. I’ve been working at this for several decades now, not always successfully! But the more success I have in following this road, the more peace I experience in my day-to-day life. My prayer for you would be that you experience this peace also. Shalom, Pastor Bill 60 Second Stories
Mark 16:9-15 After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her. Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. One of the 1stthings Jesus told his disciples after he rose from the dead was to Go into the world and preach the Gospel. It was also the last command He gave His disciples before ascending into Heaven. Sharing the Gospel is our mission as Christians. Sometimes we struggle with this task. This can be because of irrational fears we have about how people will react. We might not know how to share. One of the best ways to share Jesus is with our own stories. Our stories don’t have to be long or elaborate. You don’t need a degree to know how to share your story. Here are a few questions that can help you share your story with others in 60 seconds or less. Who is Jesus to you? Has God ever given you hope in a dark time? How has your life changed since you heard about Jesus? Has God ever helped you grow in patience, kindness, or courage? What gifts has God given you? What prayer has God answered? What are you learning about God right now? No get out there and preach the Good News to everyone. Pastor Blake In Philippians 3, Paul talks about how we cannot rely on our own human strength to accomplish the work of Salvation. He spends verses 4-6 listing all the things he had accomplished, before saying that he counts them all as a loss for the sake of Christ in verse 7.
So many of us have this innate drive to accomplish something, and be recognized for it. We may not tell ourselves that’s what we’re doing, but we’re always chasing the better job, bigger house, or nicer car. Many of us transition that way of thinking into our faith as well. We accomplish things for the kingdom, but our motivation becomes one of a spiritual self-accomplishment. Why do we do things for the kingdom? Not because they make us look good, but because God has asked us to take part in His mission with him. Paul wraps up his thought by saying this: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) Press on, brothers and sisters! Pastor Jared  WHO’S IN CHARGE?: A Pondering by Holly Woodbridge
Philippians 2 Imitating Christ’s Humility 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he(Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Who is in Charge? God Who is Jesus obedient to? God Who raises Jesus up? God I Peter 5 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Who is in Charge? God Who are we to be obedient to? God Who raises us up? God Jesus shows and Paul tells each of us how to live in these passages. We are called to submit to God, to serve, to put others needs ahead of our own, to live in humility. Bosses, CEOs, Kings, teachers, even pastors, tell us how to live, work, and behave. However, Jesus didn’t just tell us how to live, He showed us. So, when I raise my hands in worship to my Savior, I should be just as ready to use these hands to welcome a newcomer or change a diaper in the nursery or deliver a meal to a housebound friend. Christ lived His whole life on earth in humility, in obedience. If my King does that, what should I be doing? As I have learned to walk again since the stroke, and maybe soon run again, I am learning humility again. I may wobble, I may even fall down, but I choose to serve wobbly. I choose to live in humility. I choose to trust in my Lord, that He may raise me up in due time. Because HE is in charge of my life and all I have, all I am is His. What about you?  I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 3:8b-11 Being a follower of Jesus is sort of strange if we are being honest. Think about it. What other organization's or club's sales pitch is, if you join us, not only do you get to consistently sacrifice of yourself but you are even called to be conformed to death with our founder! It doesn't sound that appealing on the surface, but billions of people have signed up for just that life. Why would anyone do that? I think it is because, in God’s upside-down kingdom, gain is loss, and loss is gain. We find our greatest value not when we create gain for ourselves but when we give of ourselves, sacrificing and creating a Kingdom shaped world. If you have ever been on a mission trip, helped someone else, or given of yourself for a greater cause, you know exactly what I am talking about. The idea of loss is gain may seem strange at first, but in God’s upside-down kingdom it makes perfect sense. The only real way to see is to take God at His word and give it a holy try. There are hosts of folk who have found it to be true. Hey, what have you got to lose??? I am so grateful that your ways are not our ways, God. If it were up to me, I would just do for myself, look after myself, and care only for myself. I am so grateful that you save me from myself. God, thank you for your call to sacrifice. In that sacrifice we find you. Amen. Pastor Donny  “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God Has Freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12
Reality is Redemption, not my experience of Redemption; Redemption has no meaning for me until it speaks the language of my conscious life. When I am born again, the Spirit of God takes me right out of myself and my experiences,and identifies me with Jesus Christ. If I am left with my experiences, my experiences have not been produced by Redemption. The proof that they are produced by Redemption is that I am led out of myself all the time,I no longer pay any attention to my experiences as the ground of Reality, but only to the Reality which produced the experiences. My experiences are not worth anything unless they keep me at the Source, Jesus Christ. If you try to dam up the Holy Spirit in you to produce subjective experiences, you will find that He will burst all bounds and take you back again to the historic Christ. “Never nourish an experience which has not God as its Source and faith in God as its result.” If you do, your experience is anti-Christian, no matter what visions you may have had.
Faith that is sure of itself is not faith; faith that is sure of God is the only faith there is.  "You will call on me and come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
On occasion, I find myself having to state the obvious to my kids. For instance, the other day, one of my kids was looking for their shoes. Now, my kids' shoes are rarely put away. And for some strange reason, they never seem to be where they took them off last. So, when we are in a hurry to go somewhere, it's always quite frustrating when a child can't find their shoes. They "look" but can't find them. They search "everywhere" but still can't locate the missing shoes. Usually by the time a parent has to start looking, I find myself having to state the obvious: you have to actually use your eyes and look down on the floor for your shoes. Most of the time, the shoes were so close to them, the child just couldn't see them. It's frustrating and inconvenient when we misplace something important to us. We have to retrace our steps, searching for the missing item in obvious places, then it always seems to be in some place we never expected. Here's something I've learned: you can never find it if you never start looking. Sometimes we may feel like we've lost our faith, or that somehow God is no longer close to us. We feel powerless, untethered from our anchor. We get scared that we'll never be close to God again. But Jeremiah reminds us that all you have to do is call out to your Father. God is never far away. He's right here with you right now. When you seek Him with all your heart, you discover that he was there all along. God bless! -Pastor Michael  One of the greatest stories of God’s divine intervention in the affairs of man is found in the book of Exodus.
The problem: The Hebrew nation had been in bondage to the nation of Egypt for at least 400 years. The need: the people required a gifted, educated and charismatic leader to show and lead the way to freedom. God’s answer: Moses! Think about the utter improbability of a baby boy born to a hated Hebrew slave, receiving all the grooming, education and self-confidence which would be required to lead a complete nation into a new territory. First, this was not problem for a sovereign God who was and is opposed to any form of bondage. Release did not come instantly though. It would be eighty years before Moses was ready to lead. God used those eighty years to develop Moses into the leader (and the answer) that the Hebrew nation needed! Today, you may be in need of a God answer to a lifetime bondage issue. Before you were born, God was already preparing His answer to your need. The answer may look improbable and even impossible, yet this is no problem for a sovereign God, who opposes bondage in any arena. Help Is On The Way! Pastor Holmes  “…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 that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20a.
As many of you know, I have a new grandson! Ransom Jude McIntosh Ritchey. Baby Ransom has a witnessing name! What a blessing. I’m sure his parents will train him in how to use his name, along with every other opportunity that presents itself, to talk to people about Jesus. But Gaga (that’s me!) gets to use it, too. Ransom was born on a Saturday, and the next day, Resurrection Sunday, Bill and I went to dinner at a relative’s home. Of course the new baby was a topic of conversation, and a distant relative asked what his name was. When I told him, Steve said, “Jude is a Bible name, isn’t it?” “Yes, it is,” I answered, “And so is Ransom.” He looked puzzled, so I continued, “Well, it isn’t a Bible name, but it is a Bible word.” I then explained that when Jesus died on the cross, he ransomed us from our sins. And Steve got it! He didn’t fall on his knees and accept Christ as his Savior, but he clearly understood. And I believe that was all that was needed that day, in that setting. I am convinced that the next believer to step into Steve’s life can build on that new understanding and use it to lead him one step closer to Jesus. Paul said, “I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (I Cor. 3:6) Wouldn’t it be amazing if I get to see Steve in heaven, partly because of that small contact? I don’t have a witnessing name. Although I never thought about it before, I am kind of sad about that today. Evangelism is not my spiritual gift, but that doesn’t let me off the hook when it comes to witnessing. I am trying to develop the habit of listening for conversational openings in order to insert a word or two for Jesus. As believers, we are all responsible to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). Blessings! Nell Ritchey PENTECOST
Sunday, June 5, 2022 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Scripture Insights The writer speaks of “the confidence we have in approaching God,” and he narrows this idea of confidence down to what we may ask of God—namely, we may “ask anything according to his will.” Often we bring the things from our will to God. We have our lists, we have our hopes, and we have the ideas of what we think and what we can afford, and these we bring to God in prayer. The writer of 1 John suggests to us the idea that discerning God’s will before asking anything builds confidence in our prayer journey. First John 5:14 invites us to come to the Father and humbly ask, “Father, what is on your prayer list for me to speak to you about today?” This has an aroma of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane saying, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Today’s Prayer Father, I acknowledge your sovereignty over my life. Help me to submit to your will. Let my heart be right before you, my mind filled with the words of your Spirit, and my spirit filled with your presence. May thy will be done. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Mark Collins, District Superintendent, Canada Atlantic We trust God has blessed your time joining with Nazarenes around the USA/Canada region as you have prayed and listened to the Spirit during your reading of the Prayer Journal. What has the Lord revealed to you during this season of prayer? We want to know! To that end, the USA/Canada Regional Office has provided a prayer response survey to hear from you. You can find the link at www.usacanadaregion.org/pray. Thank you for your commitment to pray for God’s protection, direction, and revelation for the people called Nazarenes! Your partner in ministry, Dr. Stan Reeder USA/Canada Regional Director DAY 35
Saturday, June 4, 2022 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Scripture Insights A few years ago our kids and grandkids were spending a day at the lake with friends. The grandkids were having a great time with the other kids swimming in the lake. Our grandson, without realizing it, had gotten out into the deep water and was suddenly in serious trouble. He began crying out for help, but there was too much wind and commotion from all the people around. No one heard his cries—that is, no one except his mom. With the ears that only a parent has for his or her children, she was able to discern his desperate cry above all the other noise and was instantly on her way with great big strokes of love, rushing to his rescue. I am convinced that in the same way, our Father hears our cries above all the other noise when we are in deep need. Perhaps our greatest need is to simply acknowledge when we’re in over our heads. Lord, hear our cry! Today’s Prayer We confess that in these days, the waters seem deep and the winds around us obscure our desperation. But you, O Lord, hear our cries. Lift us from deep waters. Set our feet on solid ground. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Rob Songer, District Superintendent, Central California DAY 34
Friday, June 3, 2022 Daniel 9:18b-19 We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. Scripture Insights As we wait on the Lord during these days of personal and corporate prayer, Daniel exemplifies how important confession is for any who are truly seeking a supernatural intervention of God. The first seventeen verses of Daniel 9 are an acceptance of responsibility for the sins and failures of Israel’s past. Daniel’s words drip with sorrow and remorse. He humbly acknowledges that their desire to be delivered could only be possible because of God’s “great mercy” (v. 18). Then comes the big ask in verse 19: “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act!” Thankfully, God’s work in our lives is not based on our goodness. Rather, it’s based on our honesty. When we confess and repent of our sins and wrongdoings, he steps in and applies mercy (releases us from the penalty we deserve). He listens. He forgives. He hears. He acts. Why does God listen, forgive, hear, and act? This is how Daniel would answer the question: so that the name of God will be honored by those who give testimony of it. Today’s Prayer Father, keep us sensitive to the conviction of your Holy Spirit. May our spirits be quick to confession, humble in receiving forgiveness, and careful with your gift of mercy so that we who bear your name may properly represent you. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Tim Kellerman, District Superintendent, Northeastern Indiana DAY 33
Thursday, June 2, 2022 James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Scripture Insights Have we ever lived in a more divided time? God wants to heal the divisiveness. If we come in humility to pray for each other, God may heal us. I desperately want to experience the kind of healing that breaks boundaries—the kind of healing that brings unity, alignment, and passion to our shared mission. However, the necessity of confession can be scary. I do not want to analyze how I contribute to the divisiveness. What are my sins? What am I posting? How am I speaking to others? How have I been acting? If I want to be the “righteous person” who prays powerfully and effectively, then I must first take an honest look at myself, recognize my sins, confess my sins, pray with and for others, and experience the healing God wants to give. I want to be the Christlike disciple who prays with power and effectiveness. Today’s Prayer God, help me become the kind of person who seeks healing. Give me eyes to see my duplicity. Give me humility to confess. Grant to us the healing you desperately want to give. Bless the church with more Christlike disciples. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Mike Kitsko, District Superintendent, Eastern Michigan DAY 32
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Scripture Insights I believe we would all agree that the most common prayer offered to God is the cry for help. When we face overwhelming circumstances and difficult decisions and find ourselves in trouble, it seems natural that we would pray. While that makes sense, the reality for many is that prayer is looked upon as the last resort. Only after we have exhausted our ability to seek solutions do we become desperate enough to call upon God. James’s words speak to people who are caught up in the natural joys and trials of everyday life—people who recognize that “apart from [Jesus we] can do nothing” (John 15:5). Life’s trials and joys are a wonderful invitation to develop a life of total dependence on God as we make the journey. Struggling with anything in life? Pray. Celebrating good things? Pray. The invitation is to learn what it means to rely on God in every moment of daily living and to allow his presence to be made known in our hearts, attitudes, and actions. Today’s Prayer Heavenly Father, I do not know the joy or the sorrow that this day will bring, but may I experience it all with you? I live this day desperate to hear your voice. Make me aware of your presence. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Scott Shaw, District Superintendent, Intermountain |
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March 2023
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