Good evening, Family! ๐๐ฝ
We begin 2022 by praising God for:
๐ค Granting our sweet AJ another birthday! May He grant him many, many more years of health and life!
๐ค We thank God that although Amel tested positive for COVID, the Lord has kept him from exhibiting any symptoms. May He keep him safe.
๐ค Kristina thanked the church for their constant prayers during her pregnancy, and for the fact that just knowing we are praying for her and Baby has helped her to overcome her anxiety. Gratefully, she has entered her third trimester and is so thankful to have come this far by God's grace. Please continue to pray; she has an upcoming appointment and appreciates all of your prayers for continued good results.
We also pray for:
๐๐ฝCarvins, Astridโs friend, who is desperately in need of healing and new kidney after his transplant surgery was canceled due to him having COVID. May the lord protect him as he awaits a new kidney.
๐๐ฝJakiyah, Jordanโs son, who is battling COVID.
๐๐ฝ Sue, Angyโs best friend, will be giving up smoking. Pray that the Lord will give her all of the strength, determination and courage she will need to make this positive change in her life.
๐๐ฝ Catheryn, Connor and Baby Nora. May His ministering angels be their support system as they transition into this new life as a family.
๐๐ฝ Vasthi challenged the church members to each do one thing this year to advance the Kingdom of God in this new year of 2022.
๐๐ฝ Maria asked for prayer for her husband, David and her son, Jordan, as they both tested positive for COVID. May God protect and heal them . She also asked that we pray for her sister, Jeanette, who is also battling a very bad case of COVID, and is in need of prayer.
๐๐ฝ UPDATE: Jeanette reported that her husband, Carlitos, is also sick. Please pray for him as well. May they all be healed!
๐๐ฝ Gilbert asked that we please also pray for Christian, Jytza, Tamara, Bethany, and Evelyn, as they are all battling COVID symptoms.
๐๐ฝ Norma asked that we pray for her brother, Henry, who is also fighting COVID.
๐๐ฝ Our sister, Carole also tested positive toy COVID, and Is in need of prayer. Sheโs also requesting prayer for her nephew, Johnny, who has a very severe case of COVID. May God touch them both with His healing hand!
Tonightโs Devotional was graciously shared by Kevin. ๐
When we finally come face to face with God, He will care very much about something that not everyone cares very much about while living on Earth. And that is how well you and I served others with our lives. In fact, the Bible says, โEach of us will give a personal account to Godโ (Romans 14:12)
How often do we stop to think about the implications of that as God's people? Put simply...one day, God will weigh how much time and energy we spent on ourselves and the things that had importance and significance to us alone compared with what things of importance and significance we invested in serving others.
Friends, know this: at that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound deafeningly hollow: โI was just extremely busyโ or โI had my own goals-good and honest goals for myselfโ or โI was preoccupied with working, building wealth, amassing things, real estate or a stock portfolio", or one I hear quite often in our age group-"I was preparing for retirement.โ
I wish we understood this better and believed it in our hearts: To all excuses God will respond, โSorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?โ (Read Matthew 25:31-46)
There is nothing we can strive for, nothing we can build or amass, no retirement plan that could ever compare with the Eternal Rewards God has prepared for those who love and swerve Him -by living and serving others. NOTHING. Regardless of how the world measures your wealth, God has the final word on the worth of what you've done with your time on earth.
We can only be truly and fully alive when weโre helping, serving and loving others enough to want them to be saved!
I've never heard of a retirement plan that promises more LIFE. Only Jesus' plan does that! Make sure to get covered in His plan today!
Jesus said, โIf you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really liveโ Mark 8:35