Online Ministry for the Week 10/24 - 10/30 2016

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Since we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth, make us hunger for this heavenly food, that it may nourish us today in the ways of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen.

DAILY READING

• Monday (October 24, 2016): Psalm 87; Joel 3:1-8; 1 Peter 4:12-19 OR Psalm 84:8-12; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; 1 Peter 4:12-19
• Tuesday (October 25, 2016): Psalm 87; Joel 3:9-16; 1 Peter 5:1-11 OR Psalm 84:8-12; Daniel 5:1-12; 1 Peter 5:1-11
• Wednesday (October 26, 2016): Psalm 87; Joel 3:17-20; Matthew 21:28-32 OR Psalm 84:8-12; Daniel 5:13-31; Matthew 21:28-32
• Thursday (October 27, 2016): Psalm 119:137-144; Jeremiah 33:14-26; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 OR Psalm 32:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-11, 24-33; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
• Friday (October 28, 2016): Psalm 119:137-144; Habakkuk 1:5-17; 2 Peter 1:1-11 OR Psalm 32:1-7; Job 22:21-23:17; 2 Peter 1:1-11
• Saturday (October 29, 2016): Psalm 119:137-144; Habakkuk 2:5-11; John 8:39-47 OR Psalm 32:1-7; Isaiah 1:1-9; John 8:39-47

ABUNDANT HEALTH

Reversing Automatic Habits

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Diets, quit-smoking plans, and other self-help efforts based on willpower eventually fail. The entire time you are forcing yourself to change, you are under tension because your old thought patterns are unconsciously telling you to keep doing what you’ve always done. We get tired of doing what feels “unnatural” and soon quit exercising, or start smoking again, or return to our bad habits and destructive ways of relating to others.

The good news is that God can change your mental autopilot far faster than you can. He specializes in renewing your mind. That new mind-set will change the way you feel, which will change the way you act.

—Pastor Rick Warren

—The Daniel Plan brief excerpt from The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Rick Warren, DMin; Daniel Amen, MD; & Mark Hyman, MD (Zondervan). © 2013 by The Daniel Plan. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

NIV DAILY

Perfect Peace (Matthew 6:31–33)

Imagine a perfectly peaceful life—your life minus all conflict and stress. No arguments with your friends or family. No regrets about the past or worries about the future. Just a peaceful life without trouble.

Read

God is the ultimate Peacemaker. He even sent his Son as the Prince of Peace. And he wants you to be able to rest in him completely, knowing that he has everything in your life fully taken care of (see Matthew 6:31–33). He doesn’t want you to experience anxiety (see John 14:27) or the stress of thinking you’re on your own. God has got you.
You don’t have to create a life of peace; God will give this peace as you trust him: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

Think

God not only wants you to have personal peace, but he also wants you to have peace with others. Imagine having peace in your relationships. Imagine everyone getting along—being honest and respectful with each other.
Now imagine that perfection extending to the whole world. Everyone is treated fairly. There’s no fighting, no discrimination, no war. It’s a world ruled by justice.
That’s what God ultimately envisions for the world in the last days. “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken” (Micah 4:3–4).

Live

Even now, this is how God wants your life, your relationships and your world to be. You’ve had longings for this, and God wants you to experience it. So when God gives you guidelines in his Word on how to live at peace with others, this is the kind of peaceful life that he is steering you toward. He’s not giving you rules just so he can tell you what to do, he’s shepherding you toward a life of richness. Listen to what he says, follow him and let him lead you to a life of peace.

Taken from The Great Rescue Bible©2014 HarperCollins Christian Publishing

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

God, our Savior, you know each person by name. At times, we may stray from your way and not realize we are lost. Yet you kindly welcome us back, as you welcomed Zacchaeus. Help our church’s outreach ministries to reflect your grace. Give us courage by your Spirit to persevere in our faith commitments.  Amen. (Luke 19:1-10)