 In my last devotional, I shared my challenging experience following the directions that came with models I wanted to build, and also how I struggle every now and then with following the Bible’s instructions. OK, the Scriptures refer to those “instructions” as “commandments”. A commandment is not a suggested way of doing things, but GOD saying, “DO IT THIS WAY!” They’re not intended as an option, but as orders that the ultimate military commander is passing down for his followers to obey.
I think that too often we may be tempted to think that we really don't have to obey all these commands, that Jesus loves us anyway, and his grace will cover all. That is all well and good, but He did emphasize in John 14:15 – "If you love me, you will obey my commands.” Although I don’t know exactly how many commands Jesus gave (research varies, placing that number between 50 and 123), the good news is that we don’t have to keep them without help. John 14 goes on to say that Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to help us. It is clear that the Holy Spirit in our lives encourages us to at least attempt to keep those commands. And I believe the primary evidence of the presence of GOD’s Holy Spirit in our lives is the fruit generated through us, as spoken of in John 15 and in Galatians 5:22-23, where we find nine character qualities that are evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. I personally think that the first, agape love, is the fruit of the Spirit, manifested in the following eight character qualities – but you don’t have to agree with me about that. The question I ask myself daily is, what would a fruit inspector see in my life right now? No matter how mature a believer may be, the Vinedresser continues to work at producing fruit that is sweeter every day. I must continue to surrender to that ongoing pruning and hope you do too. Pastor Bill
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 Decisions
Did you know that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions every day? These could be something simple like figuring out what to have for breakfast or what pen you want to sign that document. They could even be more complex like trying to decide what car to buy or whether or not you should have a difficult discussion with a friend/co-worker. You would think that with all the practice we have making decisions that we would be experts by now. However, I would argue that most of us (including me) have a difficult time making some decisions. We are surrounded by a multitude of different voices (family, friends, social media, politicians, celebrities, advertisers, etc.) each trying to influence our thinking. It becomes overwhelming to figure out which voices we should and shouldn’t listen to. So what do we do? Who do we listen to? We find the answer in James 1:5 “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” Let’s read that again! “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” If you need help knowing what to do in life you simply have to ask God! He loves us so much that if we are willing to go to him when we need wisdom he will give it to us. But when we ask God for wisdom, we need to make sure we pay attention to the following verses James 1:6-8 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. When we request wisdom from God we have to put all of our faith in Him. We can’t ask God for wisdom and then go off and also rely on Bob to fix our problems for us (sorry Bob). We have to be all in for God. What decisions do you have to make today, this week, this year? What voices are you allowing to influence you? God’s or someone else? Remember, our God is a generous God. If you need wisdom he will give it to you! Pastor Blake  Dysfunctional Family - Week 4 Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV) August 29, 2021 Bottom Line: Healthy families serve each other.
 In the book Perelandra, C.S. Lewis imagines a scene where the story’s hero finds himself in a precarious position where his life is on the line. Before he takes the leap of faith, he says “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, here goes! I mean, amen!”
I’ve had some days where my prayers have felt like they would be more appropriately ended by saying “here goes.” Other days, I’ve had prayers that were nothing more than “Jesus, I need you today.” Romans 8:26-27 says “In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” God knows. When you have those days that you don’t have the words you think God wants to hear, the Holy Spirit is already going ahead of you to intercede for you. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, here goes! Pastor Jared  Freedom and License: A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT). Freedom, so simple, yet so complex. In school this week, Josiah and I spent some time learning about the Constitution and the freedoms offered to us as citizens of the United States. Although the word FREE is the biggest part of this word, our freedom was very costly. It came at a great price for many brave men and women. As Christians, our freedom came through the blood of Jesus Christ. Freedom is a rich word, full of meaning and promise. It holds out hope and possibility for many, while humbly acknowledging a staggering debt. Pope John Paul II said, “"It would be a great tragedy for the entire human family if the United States, which prides itself on its consecration to freedom, were to lose sight of the true meaning of that noble word.” Worse still, if the church, the body of Christ, were to forget what our freedom is all about. Cal Thomas said, “Freedom emptied of its real content, more closely fits the meaning of license, which is freedom used with irresponsibility; disregard for rules of personal conduct, licentiousness.” We are free for a purpose beyond our selves. Believers aren’t free to sin, but free to live holy lives in Christ. True freedom means willingly becoming a slave to Christ, and this happens through relationship with Him Romans 6:22-23 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Live in that freedom.  You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (Psalm 32:7-11) We have been working through a sermon series on Family in recent days at Wanamaker Woods. We have been learning about how God can work through our families, warts and all. His transforming power can reach down and make changes in the midst of the dysfunction of our family lives, leading us towards greater spiritual health. Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles, the founders of Methodism, certainly was a great example of how to be a change agent in her family even in the midst of a dysfunctional atmosphere. She endured a difficult marriage to a husband who was imprisoned twice for financial mismanagement. Their home was burned down twice. And tragically nine of their nineteen children died in infancy. Somehow Susanna raised their remaining ten children almost single-handedly, regarding motherhood as a vocation from God. Susanna took education seriously, home-schooling her children for six hours a day, teaching her seven daughters the same as her three sons. She also gave an extra hour of exclusive time to each child each week. “I look upon every soul under my charge,” she explained, “as a talent committed to me under a trust.” One of the questions I would ask is how she was able to deal with so many of the stresses going on around her. She had to find creative ways to gather resources from her heavenly Father. With nowhere at home to pray privately, Susanna’s children quickly learned that when her apron was over her head, their mother was not to be disturbed. In this unusual posture, she would pour her heart out to God, and pray for each of her children by name. Susanna Wesley was a world-class leader, educator and prayer warrior, but her main mission field was her own family. She applied herself to this task tirelessly, praying faithfully for those ten children, and teaching them diligently. She was a housewife with a hard life from a small town in rural England, but she became the mother of some eighty million Methodists in more than 130 nations today. As we think of how we can minister to those under our charge today, I would like to close with a prayer written by Susanna Wesley. Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church, or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Your presence. So may my every word and action have a moral content. May all the happenings of my life prove useful and beneficial to me. May all things instruct me and afford me an opportunity of exercising some virtue and daily learning and growing toward Your likeness. Pastor Donny  ASPECTS OF PRAYER AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR LIFE
Session 4: CHRISTIAN WITNESS "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) Telling what you know about the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving grace is not just a passing thought, or something we might consider doing if we have time after we get all our other To-Do’s done. Maybe we are afraid of people rejecting us, making fun of us, or what they might think or say, but remember, Christ already went through it all for you, and as He lived, He prayed “Not my will, but thine”. May everything you say, do and pray be prefaced by those same words “Not my will, but thine oh Lord”. Christ gave us a command that we are to tell others about Him and it comes with the promise to equip us with power to do just that. How can we do that? David gave you this foundational prayer: “Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications (Psalm 86:6). Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you courage and the right words that you may show others by your life that Jesus Christ truly makes a difference to you. What has Jesus done for you? Is your religion worth having? He has Saved you, given you hope and eternality with Him. Whatever the world can do for you pales in comparison to that. Tell and teach others! The Great commission does not include the word “Pastor” in its text that I can find, rather it is “YE”, YOU whom Christ has commissioned to Go and complete His work. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). “Go therefore and make disciples” (Mat. 28: 19). Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Mat. 28:20). Two hundred years from now, you won't value the time you spent watching television, playing sports, or being entertained, but you'll place great value on the time you spent praying for and trying to bring lost souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. Your Savior and Lord said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Mat. 6:19-21) As you pray for the Lord's will in your life, may the Holy Spirit speak into your life God's empowerment by which you may be a witness of brilliant light in a dark world to guide others to God and His infinite Grace. Rev. Jerry Schmid Watch for Session 5:PRAY ALWAYS AND EXPECT RESULTS  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
There is a new song out by the Taylors that really spoke to my heart! I would like to share it with you this morning! I Choose Joy by the Taylors: This world’s in trouble and that’s a fact. But I won’t let it get me off track. When it lands on my doorstep Here’s how I’ll react. In every situation my declaration will be, I choose joy every morning! Joy gets me going Whatever I face I’ve got the grace I need. I choose joy instead of worry, Joy around His glory Even when this journey brings me to my knees I choose Joy! I choose Joy! God didn’t save me from every test I’ve walked through the fire and I’m still blessed Got a song in my heart Cause He has never failed me yet! I’ve got Joy! I choose joy every morning! Joy gets me going Whatever I face I’ve got the grace I need. I choose joy instead of worry, Joy around His glory Even when this journey brings me to my knees I choose Joy! I choose Joy! How about you? Do you choose Joy when things around us seem bleak? I have found it really works! Blessings, Pastor Fran  Dysfunctional Family Week 3 Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV) Bottom Line: Healthy families cancel debt.
Bottom Line: Healthy families cancel debt.
 HAVE A MESSAGE AND BE ONE
"Preach the word." 2 Timothy 4:2 We are not saved to be "channels only," but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers;
heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message. There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching.
liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you. Gather your material, and let God’s light shine when you speak. We are not saved to be "channels only," but to be sons and daughters of God. Pastor Dick  “Mommy, why did God make me a human and not a vegetable?”
I LOVE these teachable moments! I responded with, “Well, I believe God has an incredible plan for your life. He has some great things for you to do some day, and if you were a vegetable he wouldn’t have been able to use you in the same way. I think he needed a person, just like you to carry out the plan he has.” He has plans for you too. Incredible plans, that only you, with your gifts, talents, personality and experience could do. You’re not an accident, you have a purpose. If you’re feeling useless, unseen, unwanted, unworthy know that the God who set the stars in motion, who tells the water to rise and fall, who creates every sunrise and sunset in all it’s glory each day, created you, a beautiful masterpiece and reflection of Him. He has a plan for you, are you ready to carry it out? Are you wiling to be used by God to carry out that plan? Begin to pray with me that God will reveal that plan for your life, and get ready for the wild ride you’re about to embark on. Don’t let the excuses creep up, remember Moses, he tried that too…God had a plan, God has a plan and you’re a part of that. Psalm 139 Blessings, Pastor Delinda  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
When there is conflict, pursuing peace can be the last thing on our minds. When there is conflict we long to get even. We want to be right, to be heard, and to win. So we say things kind of carelessly, with words that can never be taken back. The problem with handling conflict in this way is that there is an enormous cost involved. So often we find ourselves winning the argument, but losing the relationship—and that can be costly. But Jesus offers a new way of living. Rather than winning, Jesus offers the way of peace. Throughout Scripture, peace is this sense that everything is right, whole, and as it should be. It is when the world is as God designed it to be. It is also when relationships are the way they are supposed to be—intimate, close, and unashamed. The advantage to the way of peace is there is no loser. Instead, peace seeks to see the relationship restored and made right before anything else takes place. Before another word is spoken, the way of peace assures us that “we’re okay, even if we disagree.” We need a little more peace in our world today. In a world and culture where winning and being right seems to be the dominant way to live, the lack of peace seems to only contribute to more and more conflict. We need God's peace. And the great news is, it starts with us, in our homes today. So let me ask you: Do you pursue peace? This week, try it and see what God can do. — Pastor Michael  “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
For forty years they had lived below their privileges. For forty years they had looked, hoped and dreamed about the other side. The land was theirs, after all God had promised it to them. Separated by a river of fear, indecision and disobedience, they continued to live in the desert of bad choices. Then, there came a day when God said, “It’s time to move on and move in. Set your fear aside. Let your faith have reign. Put the questions of debilitating indecisions behind you. Trust me!” You know the rest of the story; they did and He did! The old story is the new story. This new/old story is for all who find themselves paralyzed by fear and indecision. Maybe this is the day when God says to you, enough of this - move on and move in. What dreams have you put on hold? What hopes have you allowed to dim into obscurity? What goals have you lost confidence in? The land of faith and trust is yours. Claim it and move on and move in. God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” So go ahead and take that step into your possibilities. Remember God said, I am your God.” The reality is, He will if you will. Pastor Holmes  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
I have frequently quoted Luke 16:10, where Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” I have been pondering that injunction to faithfulness, and have realized (in what my husband calls a “blinding flash of the obvious”) that my faithfulness to God is always preceded by His faithfulness to me. Without His faithfulness, mine could never happen. As a member of several teams working on various projects for God’s Kingdom, I have frequently found myself on the roller-coaster ride of trying to get things done with limited resources. As one of our teams wrapped up a major project, I was rejoicing that it was completed faithfully and well, at the same time humbly recognizing that we were only able to do that because of God’s faithfulness to us. Many times throughout the months we lacked the resources to continue, but God always provided. Money came from unexpected sources, and volunteers stepped forward just when we needed them – sometimes people we didn’t even know beforehand. The end result was that the project got completed and we made lots of new friends in the process. All due to God’s faithfulness. God is faithful. If we just get up every morning and follow Him around, He will help us to be also. God bless you! Nell Dysfunctional Family - Week 2 Proverbs 18:19 (NLT) Romans 12:17-18, Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 27:6, Matthew 5:23-34 (NIV) August 15, 2021 Bottom Line: Healthy families pursue peace. · Dysfunctional families don’t handle CONFLICT well. · Healthy families pursue PEACE We need to learn to SPEAK the TRUTH in LOVE. We need to learn to APOLOGIZE when we’re WRONG .
 “I [the LORD] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 When I was young I loved to build models – airplanes, ships, and cars. Often I became impatient while trying to follow the instructions and did it my own way; I was in a hurry to get the model finished so I could play with it. The problem was that the model never looked as good as the picture on the package, and I frequently had parts left over. The finished product was never as satisfying as I had hoped it would be – it not only didn’t look right, it usually didn’t work right either. Over the years I found that my walk with the Lord seemed to follow that same old pattern of impatience, frustration and lacking in satisfaction. I wanted the blessing without being obedient to the instructions. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has ever experienced this. Simple observation has shown me it is a pretty common problem. I suspect this could have something to do with the sin nature we all have to struggle with. Speaking only for myself, I’ve come to understand that when I’m obedient to GOD’s will and way, blessings follow. However, expecting a blessing to lead to obedience doesn’t always work. Psalm 32:8 makes a promise, and the Lord never breaks a promise. The counsel I receive from Him through His Word teaches me the way I should go. The “peace that passes understanding” follows close behind when I follow the instructions. Pastor Bill  Youth Group – Royals
Hey Church Family! We had our first regular youth group since summer started. I wanted to share with you our lesson we had last night about making mistakes. (This is adapted from Grow Curriculum) Have you ever done anything cringeworthy? Have you ever said or done anything that made you immediately say to yourself “I shouldn’t have done that.” You might have felt embarrassed or wanted to crawl away and hide forever. People might think we are weird, or we feel like we stand out now because of what we’ve done. But what happens if we do something more serious? Like damaging a relationship, breaking someone’s trust, or saying/doing that thing you know you shouldn’t say/do. How do we recover from sin that feels unrecoverable? Here is the good news. We are not the only people who make mistakes! In fact, scripture is filled with stories of people making mistakes. Regardless of how many people mess up God continues to reconcile them. We are going to examine the story of David to see how God works in his life after David makes a HUGE mistake. Grab your Bible and read 2 Samuel 11:1-27. In this story we see David using his authority as king to have an affair with Bathsheba. She ends up getting pregnant and David tries to cover up his mistake. It eventually leads to him arranging for the death of Bathsheba’s husband. But God saw everything and sent Nathan to confront David. Read 2 Samuel 12:1-13. David is sorry for what he has done and instead of trying to cover up his mistake more he repents and turns back to God. David writes a beautiful Psalm crying out to God asking to make him clean. Read Psalm 51. What can we do when we make mistakes in order to be right with God?
We're going to make mistakes — sometimes - mistakes that hurt us, hurt others, and hurt our relationship with God. But like David, God isn't giving up on us. With Jesus, we can always be made new. Remember, when you make mistakes, God can help make things right. Pastor Blake  The chorus to the song “Awesome God” is one of my favorites, and has been since childhood. It says, "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above with wisdom, power, and love, our God is an awesome God!"
It wasn’t until adulthood that I really learned the verses to the song, which frames that awesomeness in the context of creation, redemption, and judgment. As my favorite children’s minister is fond of saying, “God loves you. He really really loves you!” The biblical truth that God loves us is a miracle since the almighty God who created and sustains the universe owes us nothing, least of all the unconditional agape love that would compel Him to send His only begotten Son to die on the cross. However, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the same God that loves us unconditionally is the same God that flooded the earth, destroyed rebellious cities, and kicked our first parents out of Eden. He did all of this for the simple reason that He loves humanity too much to leave sin unpunished. As Proverbs 3:11-12 puts it, “Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” His discipline and His love are two sides of the same coin. Our God is an awesome God! Pastor Jared  Just Breathe: A pondering by Holly Woodbridge
Jesus calls: Breathe, just breathe Come and rest at my feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need Is to just breathe (jonny diaz “breathe”) Jesus promises: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 God offers peace! The world, not so much. I need His peace today. How about you? As you take time from the tasks of your day to just spend time with your Father, receive His peace. His is the peace that passes all understanding. His is the peace that can be experienced even in the midst of a storm. A GUIDED PRAYER EXERCISE: Imagine yourself in a place of quietness and beauty. It can be anywhere you choose, real or imaginary, Indoors or outside, somewhere you feel safe and loved, Somewhere peaceful where you can meet with God. Breathe deeply and slowly, in through your nose then gently out through your mouth. Fill your whole self with breath. Remember it was our Creator who first breathed the breath of life into man. Feel the air fill your lungs. Continue to breathe deeply, slowly, in through your nose, then gently out through your mouth. Now as you breathe in say: ‘Your perfect love’, and as you breathe out say: ‘drives out all fear’. Breathe in and out and say the words together. And again. (inhale)Your perfect love …. (exhale)…. drives out all fear. Repeat as desired Last one: (inhale)Your perfect love …. (exhale)…. drives out all fear. The day is still before you, but His peace is with you, because HE is with you. Go in peace. A song to remind you to breathe throughout your day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnjeMwxFuBA  Burning Plows/Leaving Nets
1 Kings 19:(15-19) The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elijah finds his successor Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. For modern Americans such as ourselves, numbers simply communicate a sense of quantity. In the Bible, however, numbers can carry a variety of shades of meaning. Firstly, this number tells us that Elisha is a prosperous farmer who gives up great wealth to become Elijah’s disciple. And secondly, the number twelve in this passage is symbolic, representing as it often can, the twelve tribes of Israel. Put the depth of meanings together and we find a scene that depicts Elisha as one steering the people of God while at the same time breaking up fallow ground. This passage may remind you of Jesus’ first encounter with four of his disciples as they were mending their nets. “Come follow me, he said, and I will send you out to fish for men.” (Matt.4:19) Like Elisha they left their possessions and their professions to become disciples. Elisha left his oxen, Simon Peter left his nets. What is it that we are giving up or laying down to follow Jesus today? It may be an obvious thing. It could be wealth. It could be security or a relationship. It could be something less evident, such as popularity or acceptance. As you pray for yourself today, take time to tell the Lord that he is worthy of every sacrifice. As you pray for others today, ask the Lord to surprise them with new challenges and opportunities to make sacrifices for his sake. Pastor Donny Bottom Line: Healthy families put God first.
 When You Feel Too Busy To Enjoy Life
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-- how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” -Psalm 39:4-6 NLT I don’t know about you but I have found lately that life is a very precious commodity. As I look around me I realize how many people go through life never giving a thought about tomorrow or how fast life is fleeting. We live in such a fast paced society where everyone is busy making a living, taking care of their kids or their houses or their possessions that we find ourselves on this treadmill of life that seems to get faster and faster. Families are running their kids here and there to every possible sport event. Grabbing fast food on the way and never really spending quality time at home. And the list goes on. Here it is August and I honestly don’t know where January went and for sure I haven’t gotten all the things done that I really wanted to do by now. The crazy thing is all the things we are doing in our lives can be a good thing. But we will have to admit to ourselves that doing all of it on a constant run is killing us. (Not literally) But I have found that I don’t have the energy or the drive to be on a constant run anymore. Sometimes I just want to get off this treadmill and enjoy life. But then I look around and this needs to get done and this needs my attention and before I know it I am back on the treadmill of life. I think we can become so busy that we get lost in all of it and our time with the Lord is just on Sunday’s and never during the week. I know that I have every intention of spending time in the Word but if I don’t purposely carve out that time I get busy and before I know it another day is finished and I haven’t given God top priority. I use to think when I was in my twenties that fifty was really old. Then as I approached fifty I realized one day that I was no longer going up the slope of life but was at the top looking down and realizing that my life is half done. And the older I get the more I realize that life is just a fleeting moment. What do I still want to accomplish in my life time? What goals do I have set that I still haven’t met? What am I going to be remembered for? What legacy am I going to leave behind? That I was a faithful servant of Christ or just a too busy woman going through life that missed all that God had for my life? I don’t know about you but I really want every moment of my life to count for something for Him. I don’t want to be remembered for just being a religious person. And I certainly don't want to be remembered for being a too busy person, but I want to be known for being Jesus to those around me. And I can’t be that person if I am too busy to stop and take inventory of what really matters in my life, and step off the treadmill and slow down and spend quality time with those dear to me. Slow down and enjoy life in its fullest with Christ as my companion. All the things we work so hard to acquire will wear out and eventually need to be replaced. Our kids will grow up and we will find ourselves with an empty nest. But the lives we touch and the things done for Christ will last a lifetime. Just as we read in today’s verse, being aware that my days are short helps me remember to focus on the things that bring real happiness, peace and purpose to my life and my relationship with Christ , my family and my relationships. If I can focus on the big things in life, I’m better at protecting my time and all the little things that creep in and make my life crazy busy. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel the demands of all the things that seem so urgent in life. You want to finish your Bible study, but those piles of laundry must get done. You want to sit down and read that book to your little ones but your mind can’t get away for all those chores that need to get done. Or maybe your mind wanders and you wonder what’s new on Facebook and before you know it you have spent an hour scrolling while nothing gets done and then you are upset with yourself because those things still need to be done and your fairy godmother didn’t show up to do it for you. The struggle is real. I’ve learned the best way to keep my heart and mind focused is to keep my to-do list focused as well. Have a blessed day, Pastor Fran  ASPECTS OF PRAYER AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR LIFE
Session 3: OUR GUARD You are living on a “battlefield”. Satan and the powers of darkness are still out to get you and others and make your service to God ineffective, to persecute you and throw temptation in your path. Prayer is our battle, in the midst of our battlefield. We battle against ourselves, our old fleshly desires and against our greatest adversary; satan, who is doing and will do all in his power to turn us away from prayer, because prayer is our only weapon by which we can defeat both. Have you heard the saying: “We pray as we live, because we live as we pray”? How are you living and how is your prayer life? Numerous times, Christ would get alone by himself to pray so that He could draw close to God and His will, to face the trials and battles ahead, but always to stay in God’s will for His life and ministry. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:23 When was the last time you went into your sacred place to be alone with the Lord? Alone, with no distractions, no phone, no iPad, no video games, no other people, just you and the Lord praying towards the victory. Have you prayed all night, or maybe two hours, how about one hour, possibly 30 minutes, or was it merely in a brief passing moment? Does your prayer life seem to reflect why satan so easily brings defeat? John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly Pray when you stumble - Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. Pray every day - Ephesians 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. If you want to live life in Christ with victory, joy, and confidence, then pray in truth and without ceasing as Paul instructed: Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:18 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Nothing can separate us from God but ourselves, no power, not darkness, not even satan. I know of no better way to reinforce staying ever vigilant in prayer to guard your life than with this directive from Paul to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rev. Jerry Schmid Watch for Session 4: Christian Witness  1 Thessalonians 3:2
“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” After sanctification it is difficult to state what your aim in life is,
God will never be able to use me completely
 "A boy asked his Father: ‘Dad what is the size of God?"
Then the Father looked up at the sky and saw a plane and asked his son: "What is the size of this plane?" The boy replied: "It is very small. I can hardly see it." Then, the father took him to the airport and as they approached a plane, he asked: "Now, my son, how big is this plane?" The boy replied: "Wow dad, it’s huge!" Then the father told him: "God’s size depends on how close or far you are to Him. The closer you are to Him, the greater and greater He will be in your life." James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail….Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” I often hear people ask, "why God is so far away?" I’ve felt it myself. When I take a step back and think about it, it’s really me who has moved further from Him. Do you feel God is distant? Draw near to Him, step out and talk to Him, pray, read His word, engage in worship, go to church, get back into your small group, or find a small group, turn from the sinful ways of your past that maybe you’ve gone back to. “The closer you are to Him, the greater and greater He will be in your life.” It’s so true, it’s usually me who has grown distant, unfaithful, “too busy”, not Him. He’s always there, waiting with open, loving arms. If you’re feeling He’s distant, draw near to Him, you’ll see. Blessings, Pastor Delinda |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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