 Cracked Eggs I Peter Chapter 4:12-19 August 1, 2021 The One Thing: Only Jesus can put you back together again!
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 There is a word in the English language which is dangerous as well as challenging, especially to the one who desires to be a Christ follower. The word is subtle.
The word in its simplest form simply means to make the use of clever indirect methods to achieve something. I Peter 5:8 reminds us to “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” All too often that someone is a Christ Follower. Subtle sin is dangerous to those who profess Jesus as their Lord because of its very nature. Like a snake that sneaks and slithers slowly up and suddenly bites! Subtle sin is seldom obvious, in fact most of the time it is difficult to detect or analyze. Let me be so bold as to say, far too many of God’s people are often bitten by social media. I have discerned many who promote and or buy into some aspect of social media are like a 400 pound gorilla behind a key board! According to a recent Gallup poll, sending and receiving text messages is the most prevalent form of communication for adults under 50 years of age. Now, before you begin to throw rocks at me, let me confess that I send and receive numerous text messages daily. The text message is not the problem; it is rather the sender of the text message that poses the problem. Without accountability of personal one on one, in person, communication, subtleness has the opportunity to wreak havoc! The same could be said about e-mail, voicemail, and internet postings. Does this mean we should forgo the use of social media technology? No, but what we should forgo is the use of social media as the chief means of communication. There is absolutely no better way to communicate than face to face. Emoji’s cannot replace the warmth of words or the authenticity of a message. Christ followers, be careful in regards to social media because, “your adversary, the devil is going about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to destroy.” Pastor Holmes PS. Yes, I realize you are receiving this message via social media. Please know I wrote it with a smile and a prayer trusting you will read it in context.  Martin Luther King, Jr. is quoted as saying, “The God whom we worship is not a weak and incompetent God. He is able to beat back gigantic waves of opposition and to bring low prodigious mountains of evil. The ringing testimony of the Christian faith is that God is able.”
I believe that Dr. King makes an important point – faith is only as good as it's object. Put your faith in a broken chair, and you may end up sitting on the floor. Put your faith in a faithless friend, and you may end up in a much worse position than sitting on the floor. Put your faith in God, and you’ll end up imbedded in the Kingdom of Heaven – a kingdom that arrived on earth at the incarnation of Jesus and will be completed when He returns again. In the in-between times in which we live, we are required to keep the faith. Hebrews 11:1 gives the world’s best definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV) And in verse 6 of the same chapter, the writer tells us that “…without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” And there in Hebrews 11 we find a chapter full of people who acted in faith. Things didn’t always turn out great for them on this earth, but the end result was beyond great. The Character Training Institute tells us that “Faith is confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how.” To me this means that if you and I consistently do “the next right thing,” we can have complete confidence that God is in charge of the end result, and it will be amazing! Blessings! Nell Ritchey  When the Israelites left Egypt following the plagues and the first Passover, we are told that a mixed multitude went with them (Exodus 12:38). That multitude no doubt influenced the Israelites in spiritual, cultural, and social manners, as did the Egyptians as well.
I’m pretty sure this “mixed multitude” would have been a factor in the idolatry Israel participated in while Moses was on Mt. Sinai getting the Commandments from GOD. Those we come into close relationships with, family, friends, co-workers and others, can and do have a strong influence regarding what we believe and how we behave. This happens whether we want it to or not. Family ties are among the toughest to break, for a good reason. Those we associate with the most are those who influence us the most. We tend to think, speak, and act like them, especially if we seek their approval. If they are of a different faith system, there is a natural tendency to be drawn into that faith as were the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. 1 Corinthians 15:33 gives an important warning, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” Proverbs 22:24-25 speaks to us today also, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” Three things you can count on from healthy Christian relationships:
We all need friends who will help us up when we are down. We also need to be the type of friend who will lend a helping hand to others, especially those of the family of GOD. What type of friend are you? Pastor Bill PS: If you want to soar with the eagles, don’t flock with the turkeys.  James 1:16-17 “So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
It’s easy for us to be misled if we try to live life on our own. In fact we are pretty unreliable when it comes to making life choices. Ask yourself, how different are you now than you were 5 years from now? How have your thoughts and interests changed? Is there anything you used to like that you no longer like anymore? Is there something you like now that you used to hate? (If you can’t think of anything, try to find a picture of yourself from your teen years and see if you would ever have that haircut again.) What about people? Are there any friends, family, celebrities, politicians, co-workers, etc. that you have different opinions about? Now ask yourself the same questions but about 2 weeks ago, or even yesterday. I imagine everyone is at least a little different than they used to be because it is our nature to change. Our thoughts and emotions can even change based on how much sunlight there is that day. So how do we know what is best for us? If we change so frequently and so easily, how can we make decisions for ourselves? Especially “big” decisions that will impact the rest of our lives. Here is the good news. We don’t have to! That's right; we don’t have to make choices on our own! We just have to rely on God because he never changes. Who he is, is not affected by the people around him, or his circumstances. We can have peace in the fact that we know that the things that he gives us are good for us for eternity. The things we do we may eventually regret (like the time I grew my hair out, and thought it was so cool), but the things from God will be good and perfect, yesterday, today, and forever. Who are you letting control your life? Your ever changing self? Or an eternal, consistent God? Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Pastor Blake  Aspects of Prayer and Why It Is Important For us In Our Life
Session 2: OUR ACTIVITIES How do you know what your spiritual gifs are or how to use them unless by prayer and supplication? Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. (Psalm143:1) The Lord both grants and instructs us in the gift and the purpose through which we can serve others. We are granted spiritual gifts from God through the Holy Spirit for a designated time and purpose. These abilities God grants us to use in worship and service along with various gifts of wisdom, knowledge, teaching, serving in the church or community, provide psychological or even physical healing, hospitality, encouragement, etc. etc. These gifts do not give us superiority over others, but rather a servant’s heart for the help and love of others. We become extensions of Christ’s hands and feet. Paul expressed “spiritual gifts” in two distinct areas. First that there is unity in diversity through the direction of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians: 12 1-14 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But only through prayer can we expect to draw close to the wisdom of the Lord by the Holy Spirit to work His will for our lives and service to others. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. Secondly, it is through Love, as Christ loved, that we experience the greatest gift of all. As again Paul expresses 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. To be given a gift and not use it as intended, it is of little to no value, unless you like collecting dust. So, pray for the Holy Spirit’s direction and USE IT! In doing so, you may be surprised how many blessings in your life and lives of others can be realized. OH, but I can’t you say! You have to break eggs to make omelets and you have to try, even though each try may not be successful. Be assured that God uses all situations and opportunities, turning our failures into His successes, through your yielding to the Holy Spirit to fulfil His plan and purpose. Prayer is the key which opens the communication to the Holy Spirit for you to seek and experience what God will bestow upon you to serve others and carry His Word of love and salvation to a desperate world. Rev. Jerry Schmid Watch for Session 3: Our Guard  YOU’RE WITH ME Exodus 3:11-12 (NKJV) July 25, 2021 Realize that you are WITH GOD and part of GOD’S PLAN. When the storms of life come your way, and be certain they will, can you SENSE GOD’S PRESENCE? Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV) If storms teach us anything, it is that we are NOT IN CONTROL. Is Jesus LIVING TRUTH, or only SLEEPING THEORY in your boat of life. John 6:15-19 (NKJV) Matthew 14:24-32 (NKJV) James 1:2-6 (NKJV) Remember, YOU’RE WITH HIM! He is the CREATOR of all He is the LORD of all He is SOVEREIGN of all He is in CONTROL of all
 Blessings and Battles: A pondering from Holly Woodbridge PSALM 42 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”… 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for yet shall I praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. -from Stephen Furtick Here is what I have learned about battles and blessings. Both will come, both will go. But God is with me always. So, “I will praise Him in the storm” for He is enough. I will praise Him when the sun shines for He is enough. He is provider and comforter. He is the answer. He is my help and my hope. He is the One I will hold on to. He is the One I will lean on. Yes, He is the One I will praise! DAWN – Rebecca St. James
Lord, I'm so tired in this fight Tired of waking up with no end in sight I feel I've got so little left I know that I've come to the end of myself Help me hold on Cling to You 'til I see the sun Held by Your love, I sing alleluia You're lifting my heart as I lift my hands Safe in Your love, I sing alleluia You're healing my heart as I lift my hands Even in the darkness, even when it's hardest You are faithful and You bring the dawn On every mountain, I'll sing it even louder You are faithful and You bring the dawn Link for listening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0re_J-MBVU  “For my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:8–9) We all have memories of thankfulness for answered prayers in our lives. Have you ever been thankful for unanswered prayers? Sometimes God denies my prayers because He has something even better for me. I breathe an easy amen to God’s promise through Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” I think of an old prayer which goes, “O Lord, you know what is best for me. Give what you will, how much you will and when you will.” I love the quote from Billy Graham’s wife Ruth where she says that “God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man several times!” With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, what heaven thumping prayers are there in your past that you are now grateful God ignored? Is it possible that the reason for your unanswered prayers is that God has a “higher way”? If so, we should ask Him to help us trust His alternative plan, even if every fiber of our being wants something completely different. In the midst of personal struggle and suffering it’s not always easy to believe that God has plans to give you hope and a future. Who do you know is in this place right now, whether that’s because of grief or sickness, financial difficulties, the breakdown of a relationship or something else entirely? Please name them before the Lord today, and pray that they will not only believe the promises to Jeremiah, but that they will risk receiving it for themselves. Pastor Donny  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Being a mom is hard work. Taking time out of your busy schedule to spend quality time with your kiddos is a struggle most of the time. I keep reassuring my grown kiddos that they are good parents even if they have messy hair and naughty children and their houses are in disarray because they are spending quality time reading to and playing with their little ones. Recently I ran across an article on line that I thought said it all. So this is for all you moms out there that struggle with trying to be the “perfect” mom. “Yesterday while at the pool I watched a young Mama and her little daughter enter the pool area dressed in very nice coordinating swimming suits. The mom, with her perfect loose curls tied up in a coordinating scarf, spent the first few minutes talking loudly on her phone to a friend while her daughter stood waiting to get into the pool. Mom ended the phone call and proceeded to spread out pool toys and sunscreen on a matching towel. Then after finding just the right angle and the right light, Mama pulled out her tripod and took a few selfies with her daughter. Little One asked to get in the pool. Mama said wait and then posed her daughter in front the pool, then going in to the pool and then coming back out of the pool. Little one smiled big and said "cheese" like she'd done it a million times. Then Mama told her she could play. Little One walked in and swam around for a couple of minutes. Mama called a friend on her phone and began another conversation while Little One politely and repeatedly asked "Mama, can you come in the water with me, please?" She was ignored. "Mama, come play with me?" she asked 4 more times. Mama glanced over at her but never got off the phone. After 10 minutes Mama ended her call, collected the sunscreen that was never applied, the water toys that never touched the water, and then her daughter and left the pool. I sat there thinking about what I'd witnessed for a while afterwards. I imagined the photos she took being perfectly edited and posted to social media with a caption like "Pool time with my girly!” Somewhere another Mama is going to be at home with her children, the house a mess from their play, her hair unruly from a day of mothering and her clothes dirty with spit up or peanut butter. She's going to be tired because she's spent her day cooking, caring, cleaning and playing with her children. She's going to look at that photo and she is going to compare herself to the perfect Mama at the pool. The Adversary is going to whisper into her ear "you aren't good enough... You don't look like that Mama at the pool... You don't have money to buy expensive swimming suits like that and you don't have time to make memories like she is" and that young Mama is going to believe it. She's going to feel like a failure. Ugh!! She'll never know that how she spent her time that day was so much better in her children's eyes than that "perfect Mama" at the pool. What we see on Social Media isn't always real. Sometimes and often it's a complete set-up. It's staged and filtered and it's counterfeit. Sometimes we do see absolutely real photos of vacations and beautiful homes and freshly done hair but it's only ONE moment. It's the very best moment out of a whole day spent much like our own. Working, cleaning, and messes... Mamas, don't compare yourself. You ARE enough! You are amazing and the very best part is that you are REAL! Your dirty shirt and your messy house and your happy children are real and they are proof that you are doing it right!” (Posted by Jen Flint on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jen.flint/posts/10219762658594429) Blessings, Pastor Fran  John 15:11
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" What was the joy that Jesus had?
Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me? The full flood of my life is
The first thing that will hinder this joy?
Before we know where we are, we are caught up in the shows of things. All that God has done for us is the mere threshold; He wants to get us to the place
The lives that have been of most blessing to you
Pastor Dick  Honest Prayers week 4
Bottom Line: In our prayers, we can focus on God and not our situation.
 For the past few days I have been chewing on John 15.
John 15:1-10 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” I am not the best gardener, our first garden was overgrown with weeds, overcome by grasshoppers and it seemed all we could grow were okra and yellow squash. This year our garden is small and our dog is eating all the veggies. But, my family and I planted a grapevine in our backyard at the beginning of the summer; away from the garden and for some reason the dog is leaving that alone at the moment. Now, it’s not producing anything, and we figure it will be a couple years before it does, so I have this time to figure out what I’m doing with it. I found it interesting while researching a bit that when you remove the dead, or damaged growth, you are supposed to cut all the way back to the healthy wood. Not just snap off the dead stuff, if you don’t, I read you are just inviting more disease and bugs. While I was chewing on this passage, I couldn’t help thinking about this, cut back all the way to the healthy wood... I leave you with a few questions to think about: 1. Are you attached to the vine? 2. Why is important to intentionally be close to Jesus Christ? 3. What is the ultimate purpose for bearing fruit? 4. How do you remain in Christ’s love? 5. What things are in your life that are inviting “disease” or “bugs” in, where do you need to allow Him, the great gardener to cut back in order to get to the healthy parts of you in order to continue to grow and bear fruit? Blessings, Pastor Delinda  In our prayers, we will often go through moments when we are waiting on God. You know the moments. It’s when you send your request, but there is no immediate reply. God feels silent, or he closes doors making you wonder even more what is going on. Sometimes you wait and wait. For days, weeks, months, even years.
When my wife and I moved to Topeka, we moved into a rental property so we could take some time to buy a house. When we finally started looking for a house, we looked and looked. We placed offer after offer, only to have our offers rejected or outbid by another buyer. We looked at dozens of properties. It felt like every house we looked at, someone else got before us. We prayed and prayed, knowing that God had the right home for us at the right time. But each time the house we felt might be the one slipped away, we got a little more frustrated. How long did we need to wait on God? What I’ve learned over time is that the best thing we can do while we’re waiting for God, is to worship Him. While we wait, we worship. God is worthy of our worship, and loves it when we praise Him. When we turn our hearts in gratitude toward him, God is delighted. In Jeremiah 29 we read: “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Another way of translating the Hebrew phrase “If you look for me wholeheartedly,” could be “if you worship me.” See when we pray and worship God, God listens and can be found. It’s one of the amazing characteristics of God that I love. Eventually, after waiting and worshiping God, a door was opened. Amber and I found a house and have made it our home in Topeka. And it was far better than any other house we looked at. So this week, while you’re waiting on God to open a door for you, worship Him. Pastor Michael  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. I Peter 4:12
Many of you know one of my hobbies is cooking. One of my great cooking successes occurred when I learned to crack an egg with one hand and see it cooked sunny side up. That success came at the price of a lot of eggs and an abundance of scrambled eggs. Two lessons I learned in my eggy cracking journey were; once you have cracked an egg it can never be uncracked. Second, you cannot unscramble an egg, but you can make a delicious omelet. Now transition with me and ask yourself the question, what am I to do when I am the cracked egg? This human egg cracking experience is known by a lot of different names and descriptions, loss of innocence, personal dysfunction, bad attitudes, repressed but seething anger, and we could go on and on. The harsh reality is we all get cracked at some point in our life’s journey. Another descriptor for this cracking is brokenness. A wise man once said, “When you break God’s law, God’s law eventually breaks you.” Sin, because of its inherent destructive force must be confronted, confessed and surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ! It is out of our brokenness we learn to surrender and serve. Cracking is often the process necessary for creating something better. So if you are cracked, don’t despair. Jesus can transform your brokenness into something even better than you ever thought possible. Confront sin, confess sin and surrender your life to Jesus and observe in the mirror His beautiful omelet.Pastor Holmes  “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Col. 3:2-4
Isn’t it a wonderful thing to realize that our real life is not on this earth? I think most believers are concerned about the state of our nation – morality is scoffed at, and Christianity is an endangered species. Things just keep getting worse and worse. It is easy to become discouraged, as we worry about what is going to happen to our children and grandchildren. As I cry out to God, I wonder, “How did this happen? How did we get here?” But God reminds me that this is no new thing. The Apostles, but for one, died the deaths of martyrs, and the one who survived did so only because God refused to let him die in a vat of boiling oil. The morality issues we are concerned with are not new. They are as old as sin itself. It’s all right there in Romans 1:18-25. The problem is not homosexuality, or any other specific sin; the problem is that man has become his own god. When that happens, a person’s own desires become paramount and they answer to no one but themselves. And as that occurs in more and more lives, it becomes a cultural expectation that everyone should be allowed to do what they want and the rest of us should condone that. But no matter how much people deny God, He still is, the great I AM who is eternal and who will demand an accounting from everyone. No matter how bad things get, He has always reserved a remnant and He always will. He can be depended on to protect my children and grandchildren. It’s not my job to worry about them. It’s my job to pray for them and trust Him to bring them through. Blessings! Nell Ritchey  A lot of people seem to be afraid of a lot of things these days, and this leads many to make poor choices. At some point our faith becomes placed in worldly stuff – people, places, and things. Even believers frequently fall into the same errors of thinking. I must admit I have struggled with this myself.
Before coming into a saving relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ, fear led me into many bad choices that manifested in addictive and compulsive behaviors, which ultimately led me to suicidal thinking. I was sleeping in a dirt-floor garage and was out looking for something to hang myself with when the Holy Spirit intervened. Job tells us in 28:28, “And He [our Creator] said to man ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” My process of turning from evil began that day. That is when I began to walk by faith, even though I did not hear the gospel for over 6 months. When I did accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord it was outside of church, and then I was led into a church setting where I was baptized and discipled. The blessings that have followed in my life have been the result of obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The times I have attempted to take control have brought me chastisement and correction, but these have been some of the best lessons in my life. Not pleasant, but very much appreciated in hindsight. The process continues today. Thank GOD He is not through with me yet! I stand on the promise Jesus Christ gave us in John 16:33 “ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Pastor Bill Honest Prayers - Week 3 Mark 14:35-36 NIV July 11, 2021 Bottom Line: We should begin our day by submitting to God’s will, no matter the cost. • When we pause to reflect on who _________ is, we gain a better understanding of who _______ are and ___________ we're here. • Prayer is about __________________________ our will, not ______________________ it. • Prayer is more about ___________________________ and ____________________________ . Bottom Line: We should begin our day by submitting to God’s will, no matter the cost.
 The Best Deal
“Do you guys have any deals?” I heard this question a lot this past week while working the fireworks tent. Because who doesn’t like a good deal? I love getting a good deal on something. I really don’t like to spend full price on anything if I can help it, and I am sure I’m not the only one. There is something appealing to us when we are able to get something for less than what it’s perceived worth is. It makes us feel good, almost like we won some sort of game by waiting to purchase that item when it was on sale instead of getting it at full price. But you know what you can never get a “deal” on?... Salvation. Salvation comes at a cost. And it’s not negotiable. It will cost you everything, and at the same time nothing at all. What do I mean by that? God asks us to give Him our all. No matter how hard we try to do differently, every aspect of who you are needs to be turned over to God because we cannot achieve salvation on our own. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us what our lives are without God. Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. If we are trying to earn Salvation on our own we are really following our sinful desires. Satan becomes our lord and we are spiritually dead. We are separated from God and we are no longer living the way we are created to live. Living this way subjects us to God’s anger. However there is good news. Earlier I said Salvation will cost you everything. Remember, it will also cost you absolutely nothing. Ephesians 2:4-9 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. God has given us salvation through His Mercy, Love, and Grace. This grace is a gift from God. It is not something we can “buy”. It is a gift. We don’t deserve Salvation. Our sinful nature makes sure of that. It separates us from God. But God wants us to be with Him so much he made a way for that to happen. It’s not some kind of deal we make with God. It’s a gift. All we have to do is accept it. Pastor Blake  How much are we willing to endure for our faith?
Hebrews 12:1b-4 tells us this: Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. This passage identifies Jesus as “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” The core aspect of our faith is to develop a relationship with Jesus and learn to live the way He did. Looking at His life, ministry, and love leads us to accepting whatever the world has to throw at us, knowing that no matter what we go through in this life, they did worse to Him. Keep fighting the good fight! Pastor Jared  The Do’s and Don’ts of Freedom – A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
We just celebrated the Fourth of July, but we don’t really celebrate the date on a calendar. We celebrate the freedom that date represents for America. We, the people of God, are a people of a greater freedom. We celebrate freedom every day. But, what about this freedom? Here are some Do’s and Don’ts of the Freedom found in Christ. Read all of Galatians 5 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… Do stand firm. Don’tbe burdened again. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you… Do run the race. Do obey the Truth.Don’t be misguided. 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other… Do serve one another. Dolove your neighbor. Don’t bite and devour each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… Do walk by the Spirit. Don’t fulfill desires of the flesh. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other… Do live by the Spirit. Dokeep in step with the Spirit. Don’tbe conceited. Don’tprovoke. Don’t envy. This all happens by the power of God’s Spirit living inside us. So, celebrate your freedom. Love a neighbor, Serve your church family, Live in Truth… It is time to be a Sparkler and Light up our World.  Deliverance in Dunkirk
The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:10-11 The Dunkirk evacuation in World War II – also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk – was completed, saving over 300,000 troops. During May 1940, large numbers of British, Belgian and French allied troops became trapped by Nazi troops in mainland Europe. The decision was made to evacuate the allied troops, and the French seaport Dunkirk was determined to be the optimal place to attempt the rescue. A covert operation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, was set in motion, but officials estimated that only a small number of the total troops – around 30,000 - would be able to be rescued. Ahead of the unfolding operation, King George VI called the people of Great Britain for a National Day of Prayer to take place across the nation, on Sunday May 26th, 1940. News coverage of the National Day of Prayer stated, “It is well for us to show the world that we still believe in divine guidance and in the laws of Christianity; may we find inspiration and faith from this solemn day.” That very day, the evacuation began. Hundreds of boats set out across the English Channel in a rescue attempt, vulnerable to attack - but unseasonal storms meant the Nazi air force were grounded and unable to fly. Additionally, Hitler had ordered his ground forces to halt, and they didn’t move for three days. This combination of events meant that the evacuations were able to take place largely uninterrupted for three days, leading to over 338,000 men being rescued – ten times the expected number! The British prime minister Winston Churchill called it a miracle of deliverance.The miracle of Dunkirk, however, was not defined as a miracle by everyone. There were plenty who said it was just a series of coincidences that helped to save more lives. But as Archbishop William Temple said, “When I pray coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.” We are beginning a series at Wanamaker entitled Honest Prayers. John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” I would like to have the perspective on prayer that he and Archbishop Temple did. If I am honest about my prayers, I am not quite there yet. If I am honest about my prayers, I would like to get there. So I come to you God today just as I am and I ask you to take me where you want me to go. God, today, remind me that You can do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine. I think of the situations in my faith community, town, or even my nation where there are challenges and battles to overcome. Who might God be calling me to intercede in prayer with? Lord, I invite You to show me what to pray, how to pray, and who I can pray with. Pastor Donny  ASPECTS OF PRAYER AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR LIFE
Session 1: OUR PERCEPTIONS When was the last time you perceived yourself, those close to you, and your worldly situation? This is to be expected. As Paul says, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view, the new has come! Old impressions were created by your selfish sinful nature and have been removed by the new lenses of God’s forgiveness and transforming power. If not, maybe we harbor some of that old nature, warring against the new man. Personal enemies no longer can be seen with the same fear and hostility. World situations should appear differently. Insurmountable problems should no longer be so large. Material issues, desires, habits and friends, change as we desire to share the results and blessings of Christ with others. The changes we make in our prayer life will please some and offend others. Not every one of Jesus’ contemporaries were comfortable in his presence. Likewise, not everyone will be comfortable around you as a Christ follower, but stay focused on the one you serve. The one who desires only the best for you of His kingdom and that He is working all things together, the good and not so good, for your betterment. Keep loving the Lord, Praying for His direction in your life, and yield to that direction. Rev. Jerry Schmid Watch for Session 2: Our Activities Psalm 51:1-10 (Common English Bible)
Bottom Line: God is always ready to forgive us when we confess our sin. David’s Prayer:
 It Truly Was a God thing
! “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.” Romans 8:28 NLT https://www.bible.com/116/rom.8.28.nlt When I was thinking about what to write for a devotional I wanted something that would pertain to Independence Day. As I was thinking about it I was reminded about an incident that happened several years ago here at Wanamaker Woods that I thought would be fitting to share again. Sometimes we really don't realize just how God puts things together. As we pray about what God would have us do, He is busy preparing people and situations that will bring glory to His name. That is what happened on July 2, 2005. As we prepared for our "Salute to the Troops" weekend here at Wanamaker Woods, I had invited a couple from Ft. Riley Army Post to come and give their testimony. I wanted to help in some way by reaching out to those who give of their lives sacrificially every day in service to our country; so, I began to inquire about different organizations that might be a way to extend our help. In talking to one of the Chaplains, I was told about the Walkers and about Kevin's injury. Because of Kevin Walker's injury in Iraq and what his wife had to encounter in trying to get to his bedside in Germany, the Walkers founded the Wounded Soldier Outreach and Support group, a support group for other wives and families. About two weeks before Kevin and Patty Walker were to come and share, Patty called and told me that Kevin had gotten a four day pass to go home to see his parents. He had not seen His parents since he had gotten out of the hospital and they really felt they needed to visit them. They asked if they could send another soldier that had also been injured in Iraq. I agreed and called the young man and invited him to share his testimony. A few days later, Dave Sterling came to my office and I visited with him about his tour of duty and his walk with the lord. Dave lost an arm while serving in Iraq, but he had such an upbeat spirit and gave all the praise and glory to God for what had happened to him while in Iraq. Meanwhile, I had invited a Marine lieutenant that had also been injured while serving in Iraq. This lieutenant was then a lieutenant on the Topeka Police force here in Topeka. Lieutenant Brown was sent to Iraq to train the Iraqi police. Dave Sterling was sent to Iraq as an infantry soldier and was assigned to a Bradley fighting vehicle. Neither one knew about the other. I introduced Dave and he began to give his testimony. He shared how he was injured on April 6, 2004, 10 miles west of Fallujah by Ramadi. It seems that he was on what they called "observation patrol" when they received word that a Marine battalion was pinned down by the insurgents. The Marines had been ambushed while returning to base from picking up a Marine Sergeant that was at the Police academy in Baghdad. Dave's battalion and another battalion were ordered to go and give assistance to rescue them. The battle became very intense and the Marines lost 14 of their men. Out of Dave's two battalions, 42 men died that day, ten of which were from Dave's own unit. Several men were severely injured, including his lieutenant who lost his leg and Dave who lost his arm. After Dave's testimony, I introduced Lieutenant Brown and he began to tell his story. He began by saying, "Where is my new found hero, Dave? Stand up my friend, and tell me again where you were on April 6, 2004." Dave told him once again the location where he was injured, and Lieutenant Brown began to tell his story. He told how he was sent to Iraq to train the Iraqi Police. He felt his job there was a relatively safe mission. So safe he wasn't issued a rifle, but was given a pistol instead. On April 6, 2004, he and a company of Marines were coming back from Baghdad when they were attacked by the insurgents. Fourteen of his company was killed and he was injured. Two battalions of Army infantry were sent to rescue them. Forty-two of them were killed and several severely injured. Neither one knew the other ... Neither one knew that they were injured on the same day ... at the same place ... that Dave Sterling was one of the soldiers that was sent to rescue a Marine named Lieutenant Brown. But God did ... God knew that Dave Sterling needed to meet Lieutenant Brown and that Lieutenant Brown needed to meet Dave Sterling. Who would have thought that the two would be in the same battle together on the same day half way around the world? Or that the two would be on the same program at Wanamaker Woods? .... The interesting part was that if the Walkers, who were scheduled to come, hadn't decided that Dave Sterling needed to take their place, the two would never have met! Who would have thought? God did! Because it was truly a God-thing! Pastor Fran |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
January 2023
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