Church guide

Sunday service 1-27-2019 has been cancelled do to weather.

TODAY'S READING 12/3/2019 Exodus 15:1-6 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY God promises never to leave us or forsake us. (See Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5.) PRAYER FOCUS Someone struggling to trust God Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and . . . the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east 
wind and turned it into dry land. - Exodus 14:21 (NIV) On this morning, our garage-door openers were broken. When I told five-year-old Ava to get into the car so I could take her to school, she reluctantly went to the car, but returned quickly after hitting the button and noticing that the door did not open. Sounding hopeless and with tears streaming down her face, she said, “If we go into the garage, we will be trapped. We can’t get out!” When I walked into the garage and manually opened the door, she settled down and took her seat. As Ava dried her tears, I assured her that I would never send her anyplace where she could be trapped, lost, or hurt. This moment of reassuring Ava brought the Israelite's to mind. What they must have felt as they stood at the edge of the Red Sea, just before God parted it! Like Ava in trying to open the garage door, I realize that I, too, sometimes need to hear words of reassurance — especially when my attempts seem feeble and insufficient. I need to hear that God will truly never leave me or forsake me and that even when I am at the edge of my “Red Sea,” hotly pursued, God can make an unseen way clear. TODAY'S PRAYER Dear God, when we cannot see the way forward, help us to trust that you will make a way clear. Amen.

Its just around the corner. Mark your calendars. The 71st annual McDowell Pancake and Sausage Stuffer is January 10, 2019. We also will be selling bulk and link sausage in the back of the church, just look for the signs. Please share.

Daily Devotional ~~JULY 2, 2018 God’s Glorious Colors Linda Fasking (Kentucky) All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. - Psalm 145:10 (KJV) As I was finishing up the dinner dishes, the phone rang. It was my neighbor. I could tell from her voice that she was excited. “Look out your window,” she said. “There’s a beautiful double rainbow, and I didn’t want you to miss it. It’s just so bright and big!” I put the phone down, hurried to the back porch, and there it was — a magnificent colorful arc stretching across the sky. I stood mesmerized by its grandeur. Even if I live to be 110 years old, I will never tire of the beauty of nature. Whether it’s a rainbow or an ocean, a lake, a river, or a stream — nature captures my soul. I love the trees, the grass, and the fields of flowers in the summertime. From regal rock formations to cascading falls, from farmers’ crops to city parks — they all draw me to their individual splendor. And as I drink it in, my final amazement is in the awesome God who created everything. Nature can remind us that the things that take our breath away were created by the One who gave us life and breath. TODAY'S PRAYER May we never forget that you, O God, are the creator of all the wonders of the world, especially your people. Amen. TODAY'S READING Psalm 145:9-13 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY The power of God’s creation can take my breath away! PRAYER FOCUS To see God in all of creation

Daily Devotional MAY 19, 2018 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Late to Church One Sunday I was running late for the morning church service, so I decided to catch a cab to get to church as quickly as possible. A woman and I hailed the same cab. I had waved my hand first, so the cab came to a stop near me. The woman came over and said, “Sir, my daughter is not well. She had a major heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.” It was raining that day and there were no other means of transportation. My heart was filled with pity for her. I got out of the cab and offered it to her. I arrived at church late that day, but my heart was full of a deep sense of satisfaction and peace of mind that I had helped someone that day. After all, this is what God requires us to do as followers of Christ. We carry his cross every day so that we can bear one another’s burdens and reflect Christ’s light to others so that they may be blessed. Jai Knox (Uttar Pradesh, India) TODAY'S PRAYER Dear Lord, help us to bear one another’s burdens as you have borne ours. Amen. TODAY'S READING Galatians 6:1-10 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY How can I share the light of Christ today? PRAYER FOCUS Someone on the way to the hospital

Daily Devotional MAY 18, 2018 The Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. - Psalm 40:3 (NRSV) Losses One day while having my hair cut, the new stylist told me about her experience with chemotherapy. She spoke of fear, doctor visits, feelings of anger and despair. When her treatments ended, she began to heal physically and emotionally. And that summer, she planted a garden. She said, “I knew nothing about gardening, but it was good therapy. When my tomato plants bloomed, I was so happy; but when the blooms withered, I cried, not realizing that small tomatoes were beginning to grow. When they grew and ripened, we had homemade salsa all summer.” Her words made me think of losses in our lives. When we’re young, it is easy to focus on hopes and plans; but later, we begin to lose one thing after another. Children grow up and leave home, jobs end, health fails, we lose friends. Eventually, we feel as if we have nothing left to lose. In time, however, we begin to see that God often replaces a loss with something new and unexpected: a friend who holds us up, a new interest to replace what we can no longer do, or perhaps compassion for others we would not have had without the loss. Loss is not God’s final word. Eleanor Cowles (Oregon) TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, God, for your love, which will never let us down and gives us hope wherever life takes us. Amen. TODAY'S READING Psalm 84:1-12 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY When I feel overwhelmed by loss, I will look for what God is growing in me. PRAYER FOCUS Farmers

An Old Farmer's Words of Wisdom: Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. Keep skunks and bankers at a distance. Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor. Words that soak into your ears are whispered & not yelled. Meanness don’t just happen overnight. Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads. Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge. You cannot unsay a cruel word. Every path has a few puddles. When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty. The best sermons are lived, not preached. Most of the stuff people worry about, ain’t never gonna happen anyway. Don’t judge folks by their relatives. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time. Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none. Timin’ has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’. Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’. Always drink upstream from the herd. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment. Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in. If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around. Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.

Daily Devotional May 6, 2018 Jesus answered [the tempter], “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4 (NRSV) Wilderness Experience Trevor B. Williams (Tennessee) Because I was unable to find work or housing after my college graduation, my life was uncertain. Then I re-read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ struggle in the wilderness and my perspective changed. Starved for certainty, I began to see parallels between Jesus being tempted to satisfy his physical hunger and my own situation. The way Jesus overcame temptation showed me �a way to resist my desire for control. My summer of uncertainty led me to consider what it meant for Jesus to be hungry. His response to temptation was simply that “one does not live by bread alone.” Jesus was referring to the need for us to be hungry for God. By reclaiming my hunger for God, I was able to better appreciate that angels ministered to Jesus after his time of trial in the wilderness (Matt. 4:11). I now realize that the Christian community became those angels to me, giving me sustenance and support. The more spiritually hungry I became, the more thankful I was for the grace they showed me. Today whenever I face uncertainty, I am no longer overcome by panic. Instead, I view it as a time to draw closer to God and look for ways to minister to others. TODAY'S PRAYER Dear Lord, help us to hear our neighbors’ cries of suffering. May we be witnesses to your mercy for everyone we encounter. Amen. TODAY'S READING Matthew 4:1-11 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY In uncertain times, I can turn to God and to my community of faith. PRAYER FOCUS Recent college graduates

Daily Devotional~~ 5-4-2018 Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. - Song of Songs 2:4 (NIV) Eating Rocks? Christie Thomas (Alberta, Canada) I found my toddler on the stairs, contentedly shoving rocks into his mouth. I fished the rocks out and carried him to the table to eat dessert. He didn’t appreciate that. He flailed and screamed, frustrated that I would tear him away from his treasure. But when he finally saw the chocolate cake at the table, he stopped screaming, and his eyes widened with joy. The adults at the table laughed, because who would willingly choose rocks over chocolate cake? But don’t I do the same every day? I contentedly fill my life with meaningless activities and things. I grin, happy with what I’ve gained. I’m just like my son: sitting on the stairs, thinking I have found pure joy. But really God wants to invite me to the banquet table where I can find true joy. I am frustrated when what I want is taken away, not realizing what glory is waiting just beyond my sight. I want to delight in the Lord and replace my own desires with desires that lead to God. I want God to teach me to love and seek true joy. TODAY'S PRAYER Dear God, help us to trust in your love. Direct our thoughts and desires toward you and the true joy you offer. Amen. Upgrade Today! TODAY'S READING Psalm 37:1-9 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Today I will let God lead me to the banquet table. PRAYER FOCUS For God’s desires to be my desires

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting the right amount, which he wasn’t. Angry about this, he took the farmer to court. The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure to weight the butter. The farmer replied, “Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.” The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?” The farmer replied; “Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.” Moral of the story: In life, you get what you give. Don’t try and cheat others.

Daily Devotional~~ 5-3-2018 When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face. - Matthew 6:17 Your Way Over Ours Kevin Thomas (Alabama) Three weeks into my church class on Christian disciplines, I introduced the group to fasting as an important component of prayer life. Then, I gave practical instructions so that they could try fasting during the week and return with stories of their experiences. When we gathered again, I could hardly wait to hear their accounts of the heavens opening up, of burning bushes and flashes of lightning, or at least stories of a still, small voice. The first person to speak said, “I just felt hungry.” Her honesty rattled me and deflated my enthusiasm. Not one person in the group reported a “mountaintop experience.” Our experiment with fasting failed — or so I thought. After I recovered from my disappointment, I discovered a beautiful truth about fasting. By fasting, we demonstrate our love for Christ in a very tangible way. We practice honoring God over our own passions and desires. For a short period of time, we choose not to eat because following the way of Christ is more important than our appetites as we pray, “Not what �I want, but what you want.” The Christian journey rarely consists of burning bushes and lightning bolts. The euphoria, if it comes at all, is generally short-lived. Instead, we learn to value the way of Christ over our own ways. One mundane day at a time, we are being transformed into the image of Christ. TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Lord, throughout this day, help us to choose your way over ours. Amen. TODAY'S READING Matthew 6:16-18 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I can act on my faith regardless of how I feel. PRAYER FOCUS Those starting a new spiritual practice