The Power of Encouragement

"Then Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands." (Exodus 17:12, NLT)

Not long after the Lord had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt by a series of miracles, they found themselves traveling for many days in the desert as they journeyed to the Promised Land. Throughout this journey, the people had tested Moses' leadership by complaining about the food and the water supply. Don't you think Moses got discouraged at times, leading such an ungrateful group? Now, in Exodus 17:8-16, Moses finds himself leading them against the army of an enemy--the Amalekites. During the course of the battle, it turns out that as long as Moses held up his hands with the rod of God in them, the Israelites would win the fight. However, when Moses put his hands holding the rod down, the enemy would win. As the battle continued, Moses' arms became tired.

Enter our encouragers, Aaron and Hur, who got a large rock for Moses to sit on, and then got on either side of him and held up his hands. Scripture recounts that they continued to keep his hands steady until the sun went down and Israel was victorious. Moses was no doubt an amazing leader called by God to do a big job at a critical time. But, where would Moses have been without a faithful group of encouragers like Aaron and Hur who were able to identify his need for help and quickly respond through action that was both appropriate and uplifting?

Spend some time in prayer today asking God to reveal the answers to two questions:

1) Who has "held up my hands" when I was ready to give up?

2) Whose hands can I hold up today through my prayers, my words, and my actions?

Praises:

Spaghetti dinner funds raised for UM Children's Home in Macon

New programs for children & families

Prison Ministry

Prayers:

Ministry Team Leaders

Disciple Now 2/16-19

What's Shaking

"When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm."

(Psalm 75:3, NLT)

The recent earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan as well as other natural disasters around the globe may have you contemplating the uncertainty of the future. What's shaking in your world? Is it family relationships? Employment prospects? Physical health? Is stability in any area of life a sham?

Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ can know that even when life seems fragile and unpredictable, He is rock solid and reliable. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus told His followers that "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock." When everything around you is shaking, pray to the One who is unshakable.

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." (Psalm 40:2, NLT)

Praises:

Friendship House - 20th Anniversary

Power Team - response was great!

Small Groups

Prayers:

Christians who are too "busy"

Ribbons & Strings Benefit

Sheep

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need."

(Psalm 23:1, NLT)

Praying ushers us into the holy place where the Shepherd of our heart awaits. As his sheep, we unfold our thoughts, dreams, desires, and concerns. Because he is the Shepherd, he looks and listens and hears--without interruption or condemnation--as we uncloak our fumbling, flawed thoughts.

We reveal our fears. We ask. We are utterly dependent upon him. And so we are--sheep. We entrust our plans, confide shortages, and confess sins. We empty and open and unearth and expose--for this is communion!

Bold and daring and confident in our Shepherd--this is prayer.

Praises:

New opportunities for group prayer, worship, bible study

Prayers:

Disciple Now for Youth in Community - Feb. 18-20

Plans for Friendship House 20th Anniversary in April

Our MIddle C

In Traveling Light, Max Lucado tells the following story:

When Lloyd Douglas, author of The Robe and other novels, attended college, he lived in a boardinghouse. A retired, wheelchair-bound music professor resided on the first floor. Each morning, Douglas would stick his head in the door of the teacher's apartment and ask the same question, "Well, what's the good news?" The old man would pick up his tuning fork, tap it on the side of the wheelchair, and say, "That's middle C! It was middle C yesterday; it will be middle C tomorrow; it will be middle C a thousand years from now. The tenor upstairs sings flat. The piano across the hall is out of tune, but, my friend, that is middle C."

You and I need a middle C. Haven't you had enough change in your life? The weather changes. Our health changes. Relationships change. But the Lord Jehovah who ruled the earth before Moses received the Ten Commandments, or David killed Goliath is the the same Lord Jehovah who rules it today. Same convictions. Same plans. Same mood. Same love. He never changes. Praise Him today because He is an unchanging God. Let Christ be your middle C.

 Praises:

Opportunities to worship and study God's word

Reaching across racial and denominational barriers

Prayers:

Families of those killed/injured in Arizona shooting

People suffering due to extremely cold weather

Funds for local ministries

Disciple Now in February

He is Here!

You may already be familiar with the meaning of the name Immanuel--God with us. The prophecy of a Messiah, one who would save His people, was physically and literally fulfilled upon Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. However, throughout the Old Testament, God told His people that His Spirit was with them. For example, in Hosea 11:9:

"I am God and not a human; I am the Holy One, and I am among you." 

Before you read any further, reflect on those last four words, "I am among you." Do you believe that? Jesus is no longer physically present on earth, but just as God's Spirit was with the Israelites in Hosea's day, the Spirit of Christ is with you right now. He wants you to know He is in the midst of your world. Wherever you are as you read these words, He is present. In your car, in your office, in your classroom, your bedroom, your den. He's near.

God is in the thick of things in your world. He has not taken up residence in a distant galaxy. He has not removed himself from history. He has not chosen to seclude himself on the throne of some cloudlike castle.  He has drawn near. He has involved himself in the carpools, housing projects, funeral parlors, nursing homes, unemployment offices and hospital beds of our day. He is as near to us on Monday as on Sunday. As present at the coffee break as at the communion table.

The question is, What will you do with Him? Will you live as if He is here, or will you choose to keep Him packaged and predictable? Will you leave Jesus in the manger at Christmas, or let Him be the risen Lord of your life?

Take advantage of your position as a follower of Christ and a child of God. Turn every joy and every sorrow into an opportunity to pray to the One who is here.

Praises:

The birth of Jesus

Worship opportunities

Prayers:

People in financial crises

Healing for recent surgeries

The Impact of Your Prayers

Do you ever wonder if prayer really works?  You're praying about something and Satan whispers to you, "This is a waste of time."  The only way to refute that lie is with the truth of scripture which says,

"God hears us whenever we ask Him and we know also that He gives us what we ask from Him." (1 John 5:15, GNT)

Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you.  Twenty times in the New Testament it says "Ask."  It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's control. So, you are probably thinking, "Then, why don't I get everything I pray for?"  Good question.  Here are three reasons:

1) God is not a genie. You don't put in a prayer, rub a lamp, and out pops whatever you want. If every prayer were answered that way, we would be spoiled brats. Do you give your children everything they ask for? I hope not. You know what's best for them. You can see the bigger picture. If you can see the bigger picture for your kids, how much bigger is the picture God can see?

2) Sometimes Christians pray in conflict.  You get two Christians praying for opposite outcomes, and whose request is God going to answer? First, He needs to bring about some changes in our hearts and our fellowship.

3) God knows what's best and you don't. I think this is the biggest reason for not getting all our prayers answered exactly how and when we want them to be. 1 John 5:14 tells us, "We are sure that He (God) hears us if we ask Him for anything that's according to His will." (GNT) The attitude of your prayer needs to be: "Lord, this is my prayer request, but Your will be done." That's the way that Jesus prayed when He was facing the cross. ~ taken from Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Connection

Your prayers have the potential to unlock all of God's power in response when you are praying in His will. Spend some time in prayer, today! He is waiting to answer.

Praises:

Fishers of Men movie filmed in Bainbridge

Opportunities for bible study & small groups

Prayers:

Reaching across denominational boundaries

Reaching outside the church

Leadership & direction

Saying "Thank You"

Worship is when you're aware that what you've been given is far greater than what you can give.

Worship is the awareness that were it not for His touch, you'd still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broken.

Worship is the half-glazed expression on the parched face of a desert pilgrim as he discovers that the oasis is not a mirage.

Worship is the "thank you" that refuses to be silenced.

We have tried to make a science out of worship. We can't do that. We can't do that any more than we can "sell love" or "negotiate peace."

Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the Deliverer. ~Max Lucado from In the Eye of the Storm

He brought them out of their gloom and darkness and broke their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord.
Psalm 104:14-15

Take some time to reflect on all the Lord has done for you and just worship Him today.