daily devotion for JULY 13, 2020
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Good Morning, 7/13/20
What a beautiful couple of days! I pray that you were able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, stunning flowers, and billowy clouds. Were you able to spend a little bit of time, pondering how your thinking works? What bubbles up the anxiety? What keeps you up at night? What brings you joy and diffuses your stress? If there is an ongoing theme, don’t give it any power, by ignoring what it is doing to you. Name it. And take it to Christ in prayer. Hebrews 3:1 reminds us to “fix our thoughts on Jesus.” We have been spending some time “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), noticing the beauty of creation. But … before scripture tells us to fix our eyes, it reminds us to fix our thoughts. Jesus Calling says, “If you like what you see in the mirror, you feel a bit more worthy of My Love.” July 13th devotion for today. Draw a heart around your face in the mirror and remember – God loves you dearly, just the way you are. You can take anything and everything to God in prayer. Will you please pray for David Workinger (Alice’s son and Dawn Anderson’s brother) as he is having surgery on his right elbow/arm tomorrow morning? The surgery (Tuesday) is to remove the plate placed there 15 years ago after a horrible fall. The surgery is hoping to eliminate the nerve pain increased after another fall on black ice a few years ago. There is a risk, which could affect the use of his hand/arm. Also, please add Pam Highland to your prayers as she is looking toward having a pacemaker put in on July 21st. Wearing a monitor revealed significant issues and the prayer is that not only will they be fixed, but that it might just give her some energy as well. She is too filled with life and compassion to be so constantly stopped short! (Those are my thoughts.) Please also pray for Lelah Krominga, as she has a stress test on Wednesday to follow up from a doctor’s appointment that she had. Those can be tricky – so please pray for peace and a good result, so that she might end up at a place of better health. Lord, in your mercy – we lift up David, Pam, and Lelah – we imagine ourselves offering them and their stories (and those who love them) to you for your comfort and healing hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen This Wednesday is the last day to submit a picture to Russ Stoneback for this Sunday’s worship service. Please add pictures of you and your family – any pictures that display God’s beauty and hope – examples of the kingdom of God on earth (russ.stoneback@comcast.net). Thank you. Also, please remember that July is our month to collect water (and juice) for Miss Carly’s place in downtown Rockford. Many, many cases have already been delivered – many more are in our entryway at church. Some of you have donated money and others have done your shopping – that certainly works. The heatwave has subsided for a day or 2 – but will be here again by the weekend. You are blessing so many people. The gatherings around anti-racism are just forming and the Outreach team is making plans. By tomorrow, lists and places, and times should be sent out and then … (oh Lord, don’t let it be so) if you have reached out but not heard anything – don’t read into that, except to just reach out again – don’t let a glitch keep you from entering into this important conversation. Reply to this email if you haven’t yet responded, please. I will continue to send out emails as new news comes in. With hope and in peace, Pastor Pam |