Sunday Words of Encouragement July 3, 2022 - Prayer, Purity, Purpose, and Partnership!

Our service stared with lovely worship and our Interim Pastor announced: God is perfect in all His Ways – He has never messed up, never failed to show up.
Last Sunday with Interim Pastor as our new Pastor starts next week. Now What? New season.
Cease the moment to reach people for the Church. Become what God wants you to be; do what God wants you to do. No real answer so he went to the wisdom of the Bible and found a message in
Proverbs 4:20-27.
This passage tells us to 'Open your ears, eyes and heart to hear the word of God which is Life and Health to us.'

There are four clear messages from this passage.
1. Keep Your Heart (v21) … The Bible says that the heart is the center of our being, the center of intellect: “imagination” in your heart; consider these things in your heart; believe with your heart; heavy heart; fearful heart, glad heart, hardened heart (refuses to do God’s Will - Jeremiah 13:10), tender heart (seeks to do God’s Will - Ezekiel 32:26-27). –Psalm 51:10 “create in me a clean heart”.
Keep your heart on prayer! Guard your hearts. Philippians 4:6-7.
Stay a Praying Church! Jude 21:20-21; Romans 8:6 Sometimes we need to have someone come along side of us. Be people of the Spirit.

2. Put Away From You (v24) … Put away negatives and works of the flesh; put on kindness and compassion. Ephesians 4:31-32. Put off the old nature; put on your new nature! Ephesians 4:22-24. Put away childish, petty things. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12. Grow mature and seek purity. 1 Peter 1 22: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Obey the word of God! What do you need to put away to grow in purity?

3. Let Your Eyes Look Straight Ahead (v25)… We are on a mission. Our lives are not just about coming to church on Sunday. A lot of distractions will try to pull us away. Deuteronomy 5:32: “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” Stay focused. Don’t look back. Luke 9:62. The mission is in front of us. ‘Forget the things behind and press forward.’ Philippians 3:13. Be thankful for the past but look ahead! Discipline yourself to run with purpose. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27. It is not your purpose, not someone else’s purpose…but only God’s purpose. Be a church, a people of Purpose! Fix your eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2.

4. Ponder the Path (v26) … Consider that your ultimate goal is heaven, but what are we doing along our journey. We need our actions to be established – lasting and fruitful. Pass along the message so others can find the path … for a thousand generations. The mission is a combined Church mission, not one to be pursued alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Be connected and active in the church. Work together. Everyone has a place Matthew 18:19-20: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Partner with other believers; with each other and your new Pastor.

Prayer, Purity, Purpose, and Partnership!

Our Interim Pastor concluded: ‘It is up to you what you do as each pastor preaches. As the word of God goes forth, respond to the message! Take time to come to the altar for yourself or to pray for others. Use the altars. Stand before the Lord. Help and love one another.’

We celebrate the freedom of our nation on July 4th. But, as we celebrate communion we remember that the greatest freedom is the freedom from sin through the sacrifice of Christ.

I went on a search for a song that would fit and found this one: Magnify!

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Lord, Thank you for all you have done: creation to salvation. Help me remember the principles of prayer, purity, purpose and partnership.

Happy Independence Day USA - 2017

Happy 4th of July!

Book Review: If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation By Jack Countryman

This is an inspiring prayer devotional.

If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation

By: Jack Countryman

• File Size: 178 KB
• Print Length: 59 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1404187286
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 27, 2012)
• Publication Date: August 27, 2012
• Sold by: HarperCollins Christian Publishing
• ASIN: B003DS6OII

Genre: Devotional

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

If My People guides believers on a 40-day prayer journey in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

In the days prior to the election, this prayer booklet guides believers through 40 days of prayer, plus providing seven prayers from past presidents, inspired during some of our country's darkest days.

Review:
This is a very easy, but powerful 40-day prayer devotional. It was originally released before the election in 2008 as a tool to help increase spiritual awareness and the need for repentance and renewal. The version linked was re-released before the 2012 elections. Anyone who has read the Bible is familiar with the 2 Chronicles 7:14 promise reflected above.

This study guide pulls daily readings from new testament and old and pairs them with a succinct prayer for each day of the 40 readings. At every five day interval there is a quote from an American President that acknowledges God’ sovereignty and hand on America from George Washington to Ronald Reagan. The political affiliation of the president is not important, but their acknowledgment of the importance of prayer is vital. I found these entries inspiring. I also found the few pages of revival history at the end of this slim volume interesting.

Times and conditions in America were at least troubled from a Christian perspective in 2008, and again in 2012. In my opinion, conditions have deteriorated since then. I do love my country and I pray for our people. I love My Lord more and understand the righteous anger He has every right to wield.

I think this is a guide for prayers that should be repeated often by every faithful American. It would be grand to do the study as a group but even individually, the prayers are important. I believe that God hears our prayers and that prayers give strength to others, and angels, in the unseen battles that wage around us.

I selected this guide on sale at Christianbook.com to share with Ladies Book Club.

Christmas Prayer

Tonight we lit the Candle of Light, signifying the Light that has come into the world.

John 1: 1-5

The Word Became Flesh   

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

² He was with God in the beginning.  

³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 

⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Christmas Prayer

by Robert Louis Stevenson
"Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake, Amen!"