Many years ago during a water safety class, we were taught how to save a drowning person who is resisting rescue. “Approach the person from behind,” the instructor told us. “Place one arm across the person’s chest and flailing arms, and swim toward safety. If you approach from the front, the person may grab you and pull both of you down.” Panic and fear can paralyze the ability to think and act wisely.
When two angels sent by God came to rescue Lot and his family from the impending destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:12-13), they encountered resistance. Lot’s sons-in-law thought the warning was a joke (Gen. 19:14). When the angels told Lot to hurry and leave, he hesitated (Gen. 19:15). At that point, the two angels “took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters,” and led them safely out of the city because God was merciful toward them (Gen. 19:16).
Gen. 19.
When we reflect on our journey of faith in Christ, we can see God’s faithfulness in overcoming our reluctance and resistance. When we encounter people lashing out in spiritual desperation and fear, may we have God’s wisdom to show His love to them, and to every person who is reluctant to be rescued by Him. – David McCasland. Daily Bread.
Prayer: Father, as I look at my own heart, I know I have resisted You and have been reluctant at times to come to You. Thank You for Your mercy. Help me to share with others who You are. Amen.
The Presence of the Lord is in This place. Lanny Wolfe
The presence of the Lord is in this place. I am surrounded by his love and grace. I feel that I am in a sacred space. Cos’ the nearest to heaven that I can be is knowing God is here with me, and praising in the presence of the Lord.
St Marks Lutheran 115 West Meigs Valley Nebraska plans a Community Picnic on Sunday June 28 at Noon until 1:00. St Marks community invites everyone to come and enjoy the picnic and activities!
Do Not Fear Only Believe! Mark 5:36. With God All Things are Possible!
With God All Things Are Possible
Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Louisa MR Stead (1882).
– performed by Alan Jackson.
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Prayer:
God of hope, you are ruler of night as well as day, guardian of those who wander in the shadows. Be new light and life for those who live in the darkness of despair, for prisoners of guilt and grief, for victims of fantasy and depression, that even where death’s cold grip tightens, we may know the power of the one who conquered fear and death. Amen.
Amazing Grace
John Newton (1779).
– performed by Judy Collins acapella
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
Prayer:
Companion in life and death, your love is steadfast and never ends; our weeping may linger with night, but you give joy in the morning. Touch us with your healing grace that, restored to wholeness, we may live out our calling as your resurrection people. Amen.
This next quick hymn calls upon all of creation, on earth and in heaven, to offer praise to the Trinity, in recognition that all good things come from The Lord.
Doxology
Thomas Ken (1674)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Movie at the Theater and Dinner
Get in Touch with Your Spirit!
Get in Touch with Your Spirit
Pastor Michael invites youth and adults to accompany him to movie theaters in the community for movie viewing, light meals, fellowship and lively discussion.
As we go through the summer months; “MMM”s: movie meet-ups, meals and mingling are a great way to enjoy the passing of time.
From time to time Pastor Michael would like to take a small group of youth and adults to the movie theater with him.
Please indicate your interest in this activity by emailing Pastor Michael at spirit.peace@outlook.com
stating a brief list of movies you might like to view and discuss, along with the times throughout the week when you expect to be available to watch the movie, about two hours, engage a light meal and group discussion, about one hour and travel, less than one hour.
Pastor Michael looks forward to this opportunity! Peace & Joy!
Step 7. Humbly ask Him to remove all our shortcomings. AA.org.
The Seventh Step is where we make the change in our attitude which permits us, with humility as our guide, to move out from ourselves toward others and toward God. The whole emphasis of Step Seven is on humility. It is really saying to us that we ought to be willing to try humility in seeking the removal of our shortcomings just as we did when we admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, and came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. If that degree of humility could enable us to find the grace by which such a deadly obsession could be banished, then there must be hope of the same result respecting any other problem we could possibly have. – Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 76.
Believe
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10.
We need humility for three reasons:
So that we can recognize the severity of our character defects. One aspect of our addiction is that we tend to deny and minimize the pain it inflicts. Therefore as we try to assess our character defects, we may, unless we take a very humble approach, underestimate their severity.
So that we can acknowledge the limits of human power in addressing these character defects. We cannot do it on our own. We cannot do it by sheer willpower. We cannot do it by our own intellect and reasoning.
So that we can appreciate the enormity of God’s power to transform our lives.
Step 7 is probably the most potent of the twelve. It embodies the miracle of transformation as we turn over to God our broken, defective personalities in order that He might mold them into healthy, effective instruments of His will.
– Serenity, A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery, p. 54-55.
Taking Step Seven was for many of us the greatest act of authentic humility we have ever been asked to commit to, the transfer control of our recovery to God. According to the Twelve and Twelve, humility is a clear recognition of who we are followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be. That is, humility is seeing ourselves as we actually are, good and bad, strong and weak, and acting authentically on those truths. This is not a naive attitude suggesting we have in some way already “arrived.” It is a sincere attempt to state the positive truth that when we face the truth of our shortcomings and the fact that we are powerless to change and begin to let God take our defects away, we have entered the pathway of humility. For the reality is, only God can take away our Sin, our deeply entrenched addictions, and our lifelong character defects. It is on this pathway, where we humbly ask God to remove all these defects of character, that the tools of recovery bring the healing, happiness, and security we have dreamed of. But once more it is only powerlessness and pain that can force us to take the Seventh Step into humility. A Hunger for Healing, p. 116-117.
Be still, there is a healer. His love is deeper than the sea. His mercy, it is unfailing. His arms are fortress for the weak. Let faith arise. Let faith arise.
I lift my hands to believe again. You are my refuge, You are my strength. As I pour out my heart these things, I remember. You are faithful, God, forever.
When ready, we say something like this:
“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
We have then completed Step Seven. – A.A. Big Book p.76.
Welcome! Father’s Day Faith Celebration for the Community
Everyone is Welcome!
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Mark 4:40.
I Love You Dad!Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed. Johnson Oatman (1897). BLESSINGS (Excell).
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost; Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Prayer: God our protector, you stood by David in the time of trial. Stand with us through all life’s storms, giving us courage to risk danger to protect those who are oppressed and poor, that they may know you as their stronghold and hope. Amen.
Precious Lord Take My Hand Beginnings
While leading a Church Service, Reverend Thomas Dorsey received a telegram that his wife and baby both died during childbirth. Rev. Dorsey was gripped by despair. Within one week as he sat before a piano, a peaceful calm came over him as he started to play and sing.
Composer Reverend Thomas Dorsey the “Father of Gospel Music” Writes Precious Lord Take My Hand.
Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m alone. Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.
Amen.
Prayer: Keeper of our lives, You know the hardness and gentleness of human hearts. You call your people to faithful living. Through the storms of life that bring suffering and fear, joy and laughter, teach us to turn to you for all we need, so that we may come to know your presence even in the midst of the trials that surround us. Amen.
This next quick hymn calls upon all of creation, on earth and in heaven, to offer praise to the Trinity, in recognition that all good things come from The Lord.
Doxology
Thomas Ken (1674)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Ron showed up for his race wearing his dad’s hat, which he carefully set aside before his competition began. Why the hat? It was this swimmer’s tribute to his dad, whom he described as “my best friend.” The hat was one his dad had worn when they went fishing and did other things together. Wearing the hat was Ron’s way of honoring his dad for standing beside him, encouraging him, and guiding him. When Ron dove into the water, he did so without his dad’s presence but inspired by his memory.
Father’s Hat
On this Father’s Day, there are many ways to honor our fathers, as Scripture commands us to do; Honor your Father and Mother. Eph. 6:2. One way, even if they are no longer with us, is to show respect for the good values they taught us. – Dave Branon. Daily Bread.
What can you do for your father today to show him the kind of honor Scripture refers to?
Prayer: Dear Lord, We are thankful for our fathers, they are special gifts from You; Please Help us to show we honor them by what we say and do. Amen.
The best fathers not only give us life, they teach us how to live.
What is the strongest muscle in the human body? Some say it is the tongue.
Proverbs
The tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18.
We do know that the tongue is strong. For a small muscle, it can do a lot of damage. This active little muscular organ that helps us eat, swallow, taste, and begin digestion has a tendency to also assist us in saying things we should not. The tongue is guilty of flattery, cursing, lying, boasting, and harming others. And that is just the short list.
Native American Words of Wisdom – Crow and Weasel. Nancy Rumble.
It sounds like a pretty dangerous muscle, doesn’t it? But here’s the good thing: It does not have to be that way. When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, our tongues can be turned to great good. We can speak of God’s righteousness (Ps. 35:28) and justice (Ps. 37:30). We can speak truth (Ps. 15:2), show love (1 John 3:18), and confess sin (1 John 1:9).
The writer of Proverbs 12:18 spells out one of the best uses of the tongue: “The tongue of the wise brings healing.” Imagine how we could glorify the One who made our tongues when He helps us use it to bring healing, not harm, to everyone we talk to. – Dave Brannon – Daily Bread.
The Wind – Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens).
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Please guard each word we say so we reflect You and Your love. Help our tongues speak words of healing and not harm. Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thess. 5:11). Amen.
INSIGHT: Proverbs warns us of the consequences of our words (Prov. 10:20-21; 12:13,18; 13:3; 16:24,27-28; 18:7; 22:5; 25:11-12). Wrong words are likened to a powerful fire (Prov. 16:27) and weapons of war (Prov. 12:18; 25:18; 26:18). A wise person is one who is restrained and judicious in his speech. Interestingly, we are reminded that if we keep silent, we will never say the wrong thing (Prov. 10:19) and we will even be thought to be wise (Prov. 17:28).
Step 6. We are entirely ready to have GOD remove all these defects of character. AA.org. This step states the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was. A few of them may be, but with most of them we shall have to be content with patient improvement. The words “entirely ready” underline the fact that we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn.
– Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 65.
Psalm 139. Search Me Lord.
Scripture states:
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” Isaiah 1:19.
As a rule, most defects of character involve some imbalance in the expression of and the experience of our most basic human needs. For example, ambition is not bad unless our experiences of this drive are imbalanced. If we are driven by ambition to the point of workaholism, this expression has become a defect we must address. Our sixth step prayers would not “Take away my ambition.” Rather, we might pray, “Channel my ambition into enhancing my private life as well as my work life.”
As we hold known defects of character up to God, we must avoid self-shaming and self-condemnation. The goal here is spiritual release, not spiritual self-punishment. For most of us, this process is ongoing. We will not be healed and sent forward immediately; rather, recovery will be a daily effort to evaluate, balance, and adjust the healthy expression of all of our God-given needs.
– Serenity, A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery, p. 50-51.
Precious Lord Take My Hand Beginnings
While leading a Church Service, Reverend Thomas Dorsey received a telegram that his wife and baby both died during childbirth. Rev. Dorsey was gripped by despair. Within one week as he sat before a piano, a peaceful calm came over him as he started to play and sing.
Composer Reverend Thomas Dorsey the “Father of Gospel Music” Writes Precious Lord Take My Hand.
