God’s Love

Romans 8:31-39

There are no greater words of comfort than to know that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.  Most children want to please their parents because they want their parents love and approval.  But just because they ‘want’ to please them, they do not always do what would please their parents.  Most often, the parents do not turn their backs on their children because they love them unconditionally.  In this same way, we make mistakes and feel we are not worthy of God’s love, feel we are not good enough or not worthy of the gift of salvation.  But God gave his son to die for us.  Why then would we think he would not love us unconditionally or not offer us salvation?  If Christ gave his life for us, he is not going to condemn us.  Instead, Jesus is pleading for us in Heaven and God has acquitted us--removing our sin and guilt.  God exclaims his overwhelming love for us and if we believe him, we will not be afraid.  He has said that nothing can separate us from His love—not death, life, angels, demons, our fears or worries or even the powers of Hell.  The scriptures assure us that “nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Our Gracious God, Thank you for your unconditional love that will always be there to rejoice with us in good times and comfort us in the bad.  Help us to believe that we cannot be separated from you, feeling totally secure in your love, accepting this incredible gift so that we may live each day allowing your love to shine through us.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Kathy Snider

Faith Journey

Colossians 3:1-17

Paul is talking to the church at Colosse, reminding them that they have been raised with Christ.  Two ways to look at this…they were baptized into the church but in our time we know what it means to be raised in the church or grow up in the church.  Either of these lines of thinking lead us to the same life experiences.

Recently, I have had occasion to call upon these scriptures when counseling with a family member whose son had strayed from his “Christian raising”.  Reminding her of the foundation they have given him his whole life, he will one day return to his “new” life in Christ. 

In the church we are taught to control our human nature to prepare for service in the church.  As disciples, we see ourselves as representatives of Christ.  This then becomes our faith journey from our human nature to our spiritual nature.  It is a journey we are all on.  As with any other venture we are more successful working with many “hands”, hence the cliché, “it takes a village…Christ’s village”. 

Prayer:  Father, teach us that everything we do should glorify your name and done in your honor.  We are thankful in all things.  Amen.

Debbie Savage

"Plans"

Isaiah 25:1-9

Look at your calendar and you will see plans you have made for the next few days, weeks and even months.  The problem is, and John Lennon perhaps said it as well as it can be said...... "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans."

Not so with our God.  As we can see in Isaiah 25: 1-9 God had a plan for the people of Israel to be led by Moses during their flight from Egypt.

They received a daily supply of manna in the morning and quail in the evening (Ex. 16:11-12) and drinking water from the rocks.  Forty years of wandering in the wilderness was designed to give them the opportunity to work on obedience, character and relationships.  In the end they were delivered from their oppression just as He had planned.

Can we remember He will do the same for each of us if we will but follow His lead.

Prayer: Dear Father, we are humbled by your relentless pursuit of an intimate relationship with each one of us.  You not only have a plan for our lives, but You have a plan for each day.  Help us to so order our days that we have the time to be with You and discover Your plan for us

today.  Amen.

Joe & Vicki Vermedahl

Good News!

Romans 1:1-7; 16-17

Have you ever had good news that you could hardly wait to share?  News that you wanted to share with every person you knew and even persons you didn’t know?  That is how I imagine Paul felt, sharing the gospel - the good news - of Jesus Christ!

Paul opens his letter by introducing himself to the Romans.  He calls himself ‘a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God’.  In that introduction, Paul points to his master, tells of his calling and states his mission.  

In verse 16; Paul goes on to tell the Romans that he is ‘not ashamed of the gospel’ - unapologetically, unashamed.  Why? - ‘Because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’.    

The gospel has saving power - to forgive sins, to give new life and hope of a future in heaven - impacting the past, the present and the future.  The gospel has the power to save all who believe – regardless of race, income, skin color, family background, age, or past.  The gospel has the power to save anyone – EVERYONE – who will believe.  Now, that’s GOOD NEWS!

Paul had GOOD NEWS - news of Jesus Christ and the difference He can make in people’s lives.  Paul had news that he wanted to share with the people he knew and even those he didn’t.    And, he was unashamed to do so – might we be willing to join him in that mission?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for the good news of Jesus Christ and the difference he can make in our lives.  Help us to live unashamed to share that news with others – thru our actions and our words, and our lives.  May we share the good news with others in such a way that they too will come to believe, so that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  In His name, we pray.  Amen.

Delyn Cronk

God’s Mission

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Here is the Gospel that you received,

Stand up; be saved, if you have believed.

This treasure of mine is now told to you,

A story of love and honor so true.

Christ died for our sins,

He was buried and has risen.

Then he appeared...

to the men he had chosen.

To Peter called Cephas,

And then to the twelve,

To more than five hundred,

His presence did delve.

Then to James, the apostles,

Then lastly to me,

I am the least of His men,

But God let it be.

By the grace of God, I am what I am,

My labor and trials are His graceful hand.

My preaching or theirs, it matters not,

Hearing and believing is what this has sought.

Now Christ preached resurrection,

And the awakening of the dead.

But with your head and your hearts,

You are not being led.

So Christ isn’t risen?

Your faith is in vain?

Your sins still linger?

And heaven is mundane?

Indeed Christ IS risen,

His gift through a man.

Then comes the end,

No evil can stand.

THE KINGDOM IS GOD’S,

DEATH IS IN THRALL.

CHRIST IS SUBSERVIENT,

GOD IS NOW ALL IN ALL!

When I first read this chapter, I thought it was a history lesson.

Now I can see… It’s a light on God’s mission.

Dear Father God in Heaven,

Thank you for your Wonderful Love & Grace & Mercy.

Praise your Wonderful Name for being so good to your children.  We thank you so much for allowing

us to be a part of your amazing plan.  In the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Angie Evans

Understanding

Matthew 11:2-19

Sometimes, when we love someone, we feel we just can’t give them enough.  We may even do without things we need ourselves.  We think most parents feel that way about their children.  Love makes us generous.  But generosity is more than giving.

If anyone could have showered gifts on those he loved, it was Jesus Christ.  But he didn’t.  He provided for their basic needs, he saw to it that they had shelter and enough to eat.  He watched them counting coins when he could have filled their laps with riches.  Jesus gave something more precious and more lasting than gifts.  He gave understanding.  He knew how hard it is to live in this world.  He felt what others felt and couldn’t put into words.  And out of his understanding he gave what people truly need. 

The next time you want to give a gift to someone you love, don’t worry about how much you can afford to spend or how big the present ought to be.  Consider, instead, what generosity really means; understanding.  That’s something each of us can afford to give – all the time.

Prayer:  Dear Father, thank you for the gifts of understanding and discernment.  When our focus is You, we can see the needs of others.  Please continue to make us instruments of your love, peace and joy.  Amen.

Don & Pat Grantham

Rest and Relief

Psalm 32

In this Psalm, David is giving instructions on the forgiveness of sin.  The remission of sin gives all Christians rest and relief and great spiritual blessings.  Some people pray faithfully but never mention their sins and specifically ask forgiveness.  In verse 3, he confesses that the more he prayed without confessing sin, the harder his life became and the more miserable he was.

In verse 5, he decided to quit hiding his sins and confess his sins to the Lord who forgave them all.  He admonished us to pray while there is still time.  When troubles come, as they surely will, He will be there to protect you and “see you through”.

The Lord promises to watch over us and guide us in the way that we should live.  He instructed us not to be stubborn like a horse or mule that won’t come to the master without a bit in his mouth and being pulled by reins.

The Psalm ends with David telling his followers that pain will come to the wicked but love will surround those that trust in the Lord.  All those that are righteous, rejoice!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending your Son into our world.  Dear God, I sin each day.  I pray for your forgiveness of my transgressions.  Please be with me daily and guide me to be a better example for those around me.

In Christ’s name,

Amen.

Iris Cope