A Summer Prayer for Grace God of gentle rains and warm sun, God who created me for growth, beauty and wisdom; too often I get stuck, grow impatient or fail to embrace the gifts you have given me. God of freedom, of liberation, of binding ropes being cut; too often I fail to see the […]
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Eternal and ever present God, we open ourselves to you in the spirit of reverent prayer. We pray for your guiding spirit as we have gathered to send these, your disciples, on a new and exciting journey. Your love has redeemed them, Your message has inspired them and your Holy Spirit has called them from […]
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The Great Story of God This is a transcript of the service used on December 24, 2011. It is a closer look at the characters, circumstances and context that combine to make each piece part of the Greater Story of Christmas. No one character had all the pieces of the puzzle at the time, but […]
READ MORE »The Deer’s Cry by Shaun Davey and Rita Connolly I arise today through the strength of heaven Light of sun, radiance of moon Splendor of fire, speed of lightning Swiftness of wind, depth of the sea Stability of earth, firmness of rock I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me God’s eye to look […]
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Prayer of Confession: Merciful God, although You made all people in your image, we confess that we live with deep divisions. Although you sent Jesus to be savior of the world, we confess that we treat him as our own servant to meet our needs of purpose, power and pride. Although you are One and […]
READ MORE »Will you Walk with Me If you have learned to walk A little more sure-footedly than I, Be patient with my stumbling then And know that only as I do my best and try That I may attain the goal For which we both are striving. If through experience, your soul has gained heights […]
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Leo Tolstoy once said: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, no one thinks of changing himself.” God wants to do greater things in our community and in our church, but He also wants greater things in our homes, and in our marriages, in our families, in our finances, and in our future. It has to […]
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Beginning Friday morning at 8:00 am, members and friends of the First United Methodist Church Family will come together to fast and pray for all those who suffer and die from hunger and hunger related diseases. We do this as an act of submission, trusting God to work within us a passion to do all […]
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Opening Statements: The prayers of God’s people in the Bible were offered at all hours, in every season and in every circumstance of human life. These prayers bear witness to the reality that a life of faith is built upon a heart of prayer. WHY PRAY? 1. We pray because we recognize that there […]
READ MORE »March 11, 2011 As you have heard by now, Japan has experienced a devastating tsunami that was the result of an 8.9 magnitude offshore quake. The tsunami came ashore with a tidal surge as high as 23 feet, destroying virtually everything in its path. The number of dead and missing will likely reach into the […]
READ MORE »Dear Heavenly Father, As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand […]
READ MORE »“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, […]
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Lectio Divina Isaiah 43:15-21 I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: […]
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Who doesn’t want to be blessed and have God’s favor? Those who received the blessing of the Lord in the Bible seemed to have amazing lives and were able to touch other’s as a result. Where will we be if we just ask God every now and then for His blessing? I’m not talking about […]
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Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me […]
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The Prayer of Jabez Breaking Through to the Blessed Life, by Bruce Wilkinson (Multnomah, 2000) This simple little book caused quite a stir a few years ago. Anything popular does. Is it theologically based or driven by a desire to manipulate God into responding to a formula we say like a mantra? Well, like all […]
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Dr. Steve Gedon