Heavenly Father, On this Tuesday morning, we come to you as a family, united in love and faith. As we gather together this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, we thank you for the blessings and abundance in our lives. We are grateful for the strength and support of our family, and for the opportunity to come together in your name.

As we prepare for this special day, we ask for your guidance and protection. Help us to remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving and to be grateful for all that we have. May our hearts be filled with love, joy, and gratitude as we share this day with one another.

We pray for those who may be struggling during this time, may you comfort them and provide for their needs. May our family be a beacon of light and hope to those around us and may we strive to spread your love and kindness to those we encounter.

We ask for your blessings upon this meal and the hands that have prepared it. May it nourish our bodies and bring us closer together in your love. May our conversations be filled with laughter and our memories cherished forever.

We pray for peace and unity within our family and may this Thanksgiving be a time of healing and forgiveness. May your presence be with us always, guiding us through each step of the way. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

1 John 3:3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

As children of God we are called to imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1). Just as children imitate their parents or older siblings, we should do the same, whether directly imitating God or doing as Paul said and following his example (1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1). We should strive to be pure, as Christ is.

But what does that mean exactly?

We know we live in a sinful world. And we know sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). We are all sinners and are all in need of salvation, which we have in Christ. As a result, we should try to live a good life, righteous and pure, like He is. To be pure is to be free from sin. But the problem is we are sinful creatures who continue to sin. That is why we should strive to be pure, being imitators of Christ.

The hope we have is better understood by looking at the verse before. In the previous verse John tells us we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. We have hope in becoming just like Him, pure and holy. So in the meantime, we try to live pure lives, holy and blameless. And we ask for forgiveness when we fall short.

Today let’s thank Him for the hope we have to be pure and holy.

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November 26, 2024
Verse of the Day
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV

Heavenly Father, As we come before you this Monday morning, we thank you for the powerful and transformative word we received on Sunday. Your word is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path, and we are grateful for the nourishment it provided to our souls.

We pray that the lessons learned on Sunday will carry us through this new week with strength and courage. May we remember the power of your love and grace, and may it propel us forward to serve you with renewed passion and purpose.

Lord, we ask for your wisdom and guidance as we face the challenges of this week. Help us to stay focused on you and your will for our lives. Give us strength to overcome any obstacles that may come our way, knowing that with you, all things are possible.

We also pray for those who may not have been able to join us for Sunday's service. May they too be filled with your spirit and encouraged by your word, even in their absence.

We commit this week to you, Lord, and ask for your hand of blessings upon everything we do. May our actions and words reflect the love and grace that we have received from you.

In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

November 25, 2024
Verse of the Day
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
Romans 15:5 NIV

Do you know every challenge you face doesn't take God by surprise? He already knew about it. He saw it. He already prepared an answer. He already provided the answer.He made a way and gave you victory. He will get you where you are supposed to be. Trust him. He already has the solution.

Praising God will cause your circumstances to change. Praising God will open new doors. Praising God will cause miracles to happen. So praise God today and watch things change.

Holy Curiosity

What if curiosity wasn’t something to stifle, but something holy, planted by God Himself? Imagine curiosity not as a stray impulse but as God’s hand reaching out, asking, “Do you want to know Me more?”

We often think curiosity is dangerous—“curiosity killed the cat,” right? But, for those of faith, curiosity might just be a calling. Holy curiosity doesn’t lead us away from God; it’s what draws us closer, peeling back layer after layer, inviting us into a deeper understanding of who He is. It’s as if God has hidden treasures in plain sight, waiting for us to ask, seek, and knock.

Think of holy curiosity as a river. At first, we stand on the shore, seeing only the surface. But when we dip a toe in, we realize it’s deeper than we thought. The more we wade in, the more mysteries it reveals, taking us places we’d never see if we stayed on dry land. Curiosity pulls us into the current, inviting us to explore—to know.

Holy curiosity isn’t about questioning for the sake of doubt; it’s about seeking God with wonder, like a child who looks up at a night sky and just knows there’s more out there. God loves to satisfy that kind of hunger for truth, and His Word confirms it.

Curiosity in the Bible
Throughout Scripture, we see God not only welcoming questions but using them to shape His people. When Moses sees the burning bush, he doesn’t just look and walk away—he’s curious. He asks, "Why does the bush not burn?" (Exodus 3:3). And that question draws him straight into a life-changing encounter with God.

David looks at the heavens and wonders, "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4). His questions lead him to worship. In another example, Jesus invites His disciples to ask when they don’t understand. When they ask about His parables, Jesus doesn’t chastise them—He explains, giving them even deeper insight (Mark 4:10-12).

Holy curiosity is the heartbeat of our relationship with God. Every “why” and “how” we bring to Him is like taking one step closer to His presence. It’s not doubt—it’s an invitation to trust, to understand more, and to draw nearer.

Curiosity vs. Doubt
There’s a line between doubt and holy curiosity. Doubt can stop us from trusting God, but holy curiosity is born from a heart that wants to know Him more. Curiosity says, “Lord, show me who You are.” It’s a posture of openness, a desire to see God in new and unexpected ways. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.” Curiosity leads us to ask, and God promises to respond.

Cultivating Holy Curiosity
So how do we cultivate this kind of curiosity? It starts with being open to wonder. Spend time in creation and let yourself marvel. Look at Scripture as if you’re reading it for the first time, asking questions along the way: “Why did God respond this way? What does this reveal about His character?”

In prayer, don’t just recite requests; instead, ask God to show you more of Himself. Like the river, don’t be content with standing on the shore. Step in, let the current pull you deeper. Curiosity isn’t about getting quick answers—it’s about journeying with God, discovering more as you go.

Ending That Sticks:
Imagine a magnifying glass held over a simple leaf. At first, it’s just green, smooth, ordinary. But the closer you look, the more patterns, cells, and colors emerge. That’s what holy curiosity does in our faith—it reveals the hidden intricacies of God’s character, the depths of His love, the beauty of His plan.

God isn’t hiding from you. He’s calling you deeper, inviting you to know Him in ways you’ve never known before. So, go ahead. Step into the unknown. Ask the questions. The more you seek, the more you’ll see of a God who has been inviting you all along. And that, my friend, is the treasure worth finding.

Love in Christ,

Rev RJ Thompson

Psalm 118:5 - When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.

We have said a few times this month that the psalms are prayers that are sung and accompanied by a harp. And many of the psalms have a similar message- either praise to the Lord or pleas to the Lord - and in some cases both. Today’s verse is from a psalm that narrates a time when the psalmist, most likely David, experienced distress and was saved by God - resulting in the psalmist singing praise.

Psalm 118 has a very similar message to that seen in Psalm 18. Both speak of crying for help and being rescued. But it is not just in the psalms that we find this theme. We also see it in Matthew 19:28-29, in 2 Timothy 2:12, and in Revelation 3:21. We see that blessed is the man who perseveres under trial (James 1:12) and whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13).

When David was running for his life, which he did often, he lived in caves and places he could hide. These were small, tight, confined spaces. But once he became king he lived in a palace, governing a very large area. It was quite the difference when compared. We see that he went from trial to reward, from small to large.

What can we conclude based on this passage? We see that in the midst of our struggles, when things seem to be closing in on us and restricting our movement, we should cry out to God for deliverance. It also shows us that He is faithful and will hear us, carrying us into wide open spaces or reward. We can trust Him to hear our cries and to save us from distress.

Do you cry out to God when hard pressed? Our Father wants what is best for us and waits for us to turn to Him in need.

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"Be strong and very courageous." Joshua 1:7

Thought Of The Day...
Our hearts stir with the stories of courageous people in the Bible. We admire Abram for leaving his homeland to follow the Lord. We applaud Moses for marching in before Pharaoh with God's demand "Let my people go!" We love to hear of young David going out to meet mighty Goliath.
Well, look at God's approach to Joshua, who is about to take over in Moses' place. God's first words to Joshua are about courage. Three times in his address to Joshua, God repeats the challenge "Be strong and courageous."
Courage is needed when the task is big--and this task is immense! God says, in effect, "Call Israel together; cross the Jordan; conquer the cities; overcome the enemies; resist their gods. Yes, the enemies will be fearsome, but you must be courageous!"
Courage has always been a necessary quality among the people of God. Standing for righteousness in a society that accommodates itself to evil takes courage. Spreading the true gospel of Jesus Christ in a culture that wants to say any religion will do, takes courage. Allegiance to Jesus Christ in a world that is often against Christ takes courage.
Paul's charge to his friends in Corinth applies to us all. "Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13, NCV).

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, as I come to you today, I pray for strength and courage to face the challenges ahead. Help me to remember the words of Joshua 1:7, that I may be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged. Lord, I know that there will be issues to face, temptations to withstand, and enemies to meet, but I trust in your unfailing love and protection.

Grant me a courageous heart, O Lord, that I may stand firm in my obedience to your will. Strengthen my faith and help me to remain steadfast in the face of adversity. May I always remember that with you by my side, I am more than a conqueror.

Guide me, Lord, in your righteous ways and keep me on the path of obedience. May your Holy Spirit empower me to resist temptations and overcome any obstacle that comes my way. I pray that through your grace, I may live a life that brings honor and glory to your name.

Thank you, Lord, for your promise to be with me wherever I go. I trust in your unfailing love and faithfulness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Saul replied, “. . . I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
—1 Samuel 13:11-12

Thought Of The Day...
A good story can make us nervous—even anxious. The characters find themselves in trouble, and we fear for them.
But when the story is our story, we don’t like to see trouble coming. That’s what Saul, the first king of Israel, discovered. God had chosen him as king and was prepared to bless him. But the vast Philistine army was headed straight toward the Israelite forces. Everyone was nervous, especially the young King Saul. The prophet Samuel had given him God’s instructions: wait for seven days and then Samuel would lead in a sacrifice to pray for success in battle. But as tensions rose, the king took matters into his own hands: he offered up the sacrifice himself, despite God’s clear instructions.
Samuel’s voice rang out just as Saul finished making the offering: “What have you done?” Saul tried to explain that he felt compelled to offer the sacrifice because the enemy was near and his men were scattering.
“‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said.” It turns out that this had been a test, a chance for Saul to decide in whom he would trust for his security. Saul’s nervousness showed that when it came right down to it, he trusted in his own efforts more than in God. That day proved to be the beginning of the end for Saul.
When God is “slow to show up” in your life, do you get nervous? What does that show? Are you willing to wait for him?

Prayer...
Father God, We come before you today with heavy hearts, filled with remorse and regret. We have failed to fully trust in you and instead, we have put our faith in our own resources. We have allowed our fears and doubts to cloud our minds, causing us to stray from your path.

Forgive us, dear Lord, for our lack of faith. Forgive us for the times we have relied on our own strength and wisdom rather than leaning on you. We ask for your forgiveness for the times we have doubted your plans and questioned your goodness.

Help us, Lord, to have a heart like David, who trusted in you with unwavering faith. Give us the courage to obey your commands and to follow your will for our lives. May we never forget that you are the source of our strength and our only true refuge.

May we learn from the mistake of Saul, who let his fears and impatience lead him to disobedience. May we always seek your guidance and have faith in your perfect timing.

Lord, we pray for your continued guidance and protection as we journey through life. Help us to always remember that you are faithful and that your plans for us are good.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Be the Bridge Back to Faith https://youtube.com/shorts/Ilm-fqR40BM?feature=share
Have you noticed someone drifting away from their faith? Don’t wait for them to come back—reach out and be the bridge! James 5 teaches us that bringing someone back can save a soul and cover a multitude of sins. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus in someone’s life today.

#James5 #BringThemBack #SavingSouls #ChristianLove #GraceAndMercy #HelpingOthers #FaithRestoration #FaithInAction

The Power of Fervent Prayer! https://youtube.com/shorts/y3YZolP8NgY?feature=share
James 5:16 reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” When we pray with faith and passion, God moves! It’s not about long prayers or perfect words—it’s about a heart full of faith. Let’s commit to praying with fervency today and see how God responds.

#James5 #FerventPrayer #PowerOfPrayer #FaithInAction #PrayerWorks #ChristianLiving #PrayWithFaith

1 Timothy 2:8 - Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

Though this verse specifically addresses men (the Greek word used indicates men, not mankind), it does not mean the verse is not applicable to everyone. Let’s see what we can glean from today’s verse.

Understanding the culture at the time will help give us background knowledge that makes the literal translation of the verse better understood. At the time when Paul was writing, prayer was often delegated to others. Men were not typically the ones who were asked to pray. It was delegated to women. But Paul counters this by telling the men that they, too, should be praying.

In today’s age, we know that everyone should pray. And not only should everyone pray, but we should do so without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is open to anyone and everyone. We all have access to God thanks to the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Take advantage of that access, use it continuously, and pour out your hearts to Him.

The verse continues, telling them to lift their hands in prayer. We see this frequently throughout the psalms. Psalm 134:2 tells us to lift our hands to the holy place and bless Him. Psalm 88:9 speaks of spreading out hands to Him. Psalm 28:2 mentions lifting hands to His holy sanctuary. Psalm 63:4 goes on to say “So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands.” And the list goes on…

Not only should we lift our hands in prayer, but they should be HOLY hands, lifted without anger. Holy, as it is indicated here, means something dedicated or consecrated to God. We lift our hands to God to present everything we are and everything we have. Our hands, therefore, symbolize our lives.

A quick note to conclude today - There are multiple verses that speak of accompanying actions like raising our hands. Each action mentioned in the Bible is not instruction that we must pray in that posture or position, but they do show us additional ways that we might express our hearts and willingness to surrender to God. Raising your hands should not be done if you feel it is awkward or uncomfortable to you. Your heart matters the most. Take your requests to God with the right attitude. Raise your hands if you feel led, kneel if you prefer, prostrate yourself face down if that helps you better approach God, or lift your eyes to the heavens as you pray. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do it. The main thing is simply to pray.

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