Prayer for Today

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Holy Spirit, guide me into a greater ability for gentleness. Calm my reactions to those who would oppose me, and give me kind responses to state my cause from a position of your strength and not my own. I seek to glorify God in the name and authority of Jesus, according to the good and…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220410

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Today is a beautiful day, because Paul wrote the gospel into his salutation to the Romans “according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship…

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Changes in Church Bylaws Have Consequences

A View from the Pews

Changes in the bylaws of my former church drastically changed the structure of the church leadership. They minimized the oversight the elders had over the senior minister, and they put the church into a structure similar to corporate governance. The leadership made these changes under the auspices of bringing the bylaws in line with state…

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Prayer for Today

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Father God, you are the God of forgiveness and second chances. You are the God who changes lives through your Holy Spirit when we turn away from displeasing you and turn to follow Jesus as your Son who died for our sins and rose to sit at your right hand. Thank you for the second…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220409

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Today is a beautiful day, because Paul boldly testified in the face of being imprisoned, “Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead…

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A View from the Pews

I admit to  my tendency to be codependent. Acceptance and belonging have always been at the top of my emotional needs, and I struggled through the steps of recovery to figure out where it all began. Watching my dream of being loved and cherished in a marriage melt away took years to unfold. I never…

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Prayer for Today

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Savior, you are the lover of my soul and my sanctification. You set me apart and grow me to be more like you. Use me as a conduit of your love to those around me. May they know I am a Christ follower by the love that I share. I ask in the name and…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20220408

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Today is a beautiful day, because “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be…

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So, What is a Church Home to You?

A View from the Pews

My idea of a church home is a place of belonging and working together for the good of God’s kingdom. I admit that I felt a little lost in going into a membership of about 2,000, but I found acceptance and ministry in the choir, and I found close relationship in a small group. I…

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Prayer for Today

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Holy Spirit, teach me and guide me in your wisdom for my journey through this day. I get into trouble when I lean on my own understanding. Give me discernment to share what I believe and the joy of your salvation. I ask in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and…

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