As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

Thought Of The Day...
Many Christians have a tendency to see witnessing as an individual enterprise, with each of us doing our own thing in isolation from others. Although reaching out to the lost has an individual side to it, it was never meant to be a solo enterprise. Remember that Jesus sent out 72 followers two-by-two (Luke 10:1), not one-by-one. Part of the joy of reaching out is that we do it together. Our proverb today reminds us that we are more effective when we work as a team rather than as a lone ranger.

Teaming up with God's Spirit and God's family allows each of us to offer our own unique contributions. We can be one of the links in the chain that leads someone to Christ. But we don't have to be the entire chain.

We know that physical reproduction is not the result of a solo effort. The same is true with spiritual reproduction. New believers are to be born and raised within a loving Christian community. The church is to be a maternity ward in which the cries of newborn babes in Christ are constantly heard.

The way to overcome this barrier is to team up with a partner, with a small group, or with an outreaching church. Pool your resources, share your gifts, encourage each other to become brighter lights for the Lord. Enlist yourself in God's search-and-rescue team. It will prove to be your greatest joy.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, seeking your wisdom and guidance. We pray that you would help us to heed the words of Proverbs 27:17, reminding us of the power of community and unity among believers.

Lord, we ask that you would strengthen our bonds with one another, that we may be united in our faith and love for you. Help us to be a contagious Christian community, spreading your love and truth to those around us.

May we work together to invite others into your family, to include them in our gatherings and events, and to enfold them with open arms into your love. Give us the courage and compassion to reach out to those who may feel lost or alone, and guide us in sharing the message of your grace and salvation.

We pray for your Holy Spirit to be at work within us, creating a deep and lasting connection between your children. May our love for one another reflect the perfect love you have for us.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of community and the opportunity to grow and learn from one another. May we continually strive to be a shining example of your love in this world. We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

The bibles are only $20.
$821 out of $1600 as of 2:00 pm 9/20


https://www.givesendgo.com/GDBE5

Two different congregations in Kenya are in need of Bibles in specific dialects: Swahili and Kalenjin. Andrew Bishop Andrew K Koech and Nathan Blair are the leaders of each congregation. I have friends who have been over there and can validate these ministries. Upon purchase of Bibles they will provide photo documentation as to their purchase and delivery. People in Kenya are hungry for the Word so let's give them some support. Including shipping, each Bible will average $20 and we are looking to get 40 Bibles in each dialect for a total of $1600. This is least expensive way to purchase Bibles and will also last longer than electronic devices. 80 people donating $20 a piece can make this happen, or 40 people donating $40. Please help in this project to give what we take for granted to people who are desiring the Word of God in their own tongue. Thank you!

$200 out of $1600 as of 9:45am 9/20

Heavenly Father, as we gather on this Saturday morning to prepare our hearts and minds for Sunday service, we humbly come before Your throne of grace. We thank You for the privilege and blessing of worshiping You together as a church family, and for the guidance and leadership of our pastors and church leaders.

Lord, we lift up our pastors to You and pray that You would anoint them with Your wisdom and leading as they prepare to share Your Word with us. Give them strength and clarity as they guide and shepherd Your flock. May their hearts be continually filled with Your love and their minds filled with Your truth.

We also pray for our church leadership, that You would grant them wisdom and discernment in making decisions that honor You and benefit Your people. Give them unity and harmony as they work together to lead and serve our church.

As we prepare for Sunday service, help us to set aside any distractions or worries and focus our hearts on You. May Your Holy Spirit move among us, preparing our hearts to receive Your Word and to worship You with all that we are.

Above all, may Your name be glorified through every aspect of our Sunday service. Help us to be a light to the world as we gather together in worship. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.

I'm going to take a moment and introduce myself. Hi, my name is Mike and I am from Swarthmore PA just across the street from the well known Swarthmore College. I work part time writing for Pop Culture Madness on anything I can think of that's interesting. For instance today is Batman Day and pretty soon we'll be celebrating the 80th anniversary of MEET ME IN ST LOUIS and the 70th Anniversary of the film WHITE CHRISTMAS both of these movies are yearly traditions in my home. I'm single with no children. That makes me sad sometimes. But I'm not sure I would have made a good husband. I sing a lot. It helps chase away the blues and I love to cook and bake. My nieces tell me I make the best chocolate fudge brownies. That's me. Anyone care to say hi and tell me about you. The comment section is open. And one last thing. I became a Christian on 9/9/79 I was 18.

“Go, show your love to your wife again … Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites …”
Hosea 3:1

Thought Of The Day...
The scene played out in today’s Scripture reading is heart wrenching. Apparently Hosea and Gomer had been living apart, and she had become the property of someone else. Gomer’s usefulness as a prostitute slave had ended. So she was brought by her owner into a slave market, where she was put up for sale.

Imagine how degrading that would have been!Imagine the astonishment and pity (or disgust) on the face of every onlooker. Imagine every whisper hushed by the announcement that the bidding on Gomer had begun.

Then the silence in the slave market was broken by the voice of a bidder—Hosea! He was the last person anyone would have expected to have interest in Gomer, but Hosea bought back his unfaithful wife and took her home. Someone once said that this passage records the only time in history that “a slave market was bright with the revelation of the love of God.”

The Bible calls this kind of transaction a redemption. Jesus has done for us what God told Hosea to do for Gomer. We used to be “slaves to sin” (Romans 6:17), but we have been “redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). Jesus has bought us, and we belong to him.

Prayer...
Father God, As we come to you in prayer, our hearts overflow with gratitude for your boundless love and grace. Your word in Hosea 3:1 reminds us of your unfailing love for us, your children. We are humbled by the fact that you chose to love us despite our constant wanderings and shortcomings.

Help us to never forget that we belong to you, Jesus our Master. Give us the strength and wisdom to live each day in a way that reflects your love and grace. May our actions and words proclaim your goodness and mercy to those around us.

Lord, we pray for those who may feel lost and disconnected from your love. May they be reminded of your deep and unchanging love for them, and may they find their way back to you.

Guide us, O Lord, to love and forgive as you do. May we never withhold our love from others, just as you never withhold your love from us.

Thank you, Father, for choosing to redeem us through your Son, Jesus Christ. May we live in thankfulness and obedience to your will, always seeking to glorify you in all that we do.

We ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless.

Heavenly Father, On this Tuesday morning, we come before you as a family, joining our hearts and voices in prayer. We thank you for the blessings of our spouses and children, and we lift them up before you. We pray that you would fill their hearts with love, joy, and peace. May you strengthen their minds and bodies, and guide them in all their decisions.

We also lift up those who are single parents, Lord. We pray for your comfort and strength upon them, for the challenges they face in raising their children alone. May they feel your presence and know that you are with them every step of the way.

Lord, we ask for your hand of healing upon our family's health. Be with those who are struggling with sickness or pain, and bring restoration to their bodies. We also come to you with our financial struggles. Please provide for our needs and guide us in managing our resources wisely.

Father, we trust in your faithfulness and goodness, knowing that you are working all things for our good. Help us to continue following you and seeking your will for our lives. May our family be a reflection of your love and grace to those around us.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.