Emmanuel United Methodist Church

05/27/2026

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

How important is grace? Paul said that sharing the good news of God's grace was more important to him than his life! In fact, that was his life after his conversion to Jesus. The wonderful thing for Paul is that he aligned his life's mission to be an expression of God's grace. That's why he could tell the Philippians:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:20-21).

The challenge for us is to find out where we fit in God's story of unfolding grace and live into that role as our life's mission. We don't have to be a missionary, preacher, pastor, or evangelist to have such a mission. God longs for each of us to see living for him and sharing his mercy, grace, and love in Jesus as essential — as our life. No matter what we do to earn a living, lead a family, live as a single for Jesus, or influence others as a teen, God has a mission for us in who we are and where he has placed us. In whatever place we find ourselves, let's live as Jesus' salt and light in a world of decay and darkness so that others can discover grace and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Almighty God, thank you for your lavish grace, demonstrated and fully expressed in sending Jesus to save us and give meaning to our lives. As your children, and in thanks for your sacrificial gift, we pledge to you our lives, our love, and our all. We ask for the Holy Spirit's help to know and complete the mission you have for each of us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

05/26/2026

Monday, May 26, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

How do you view God?
Is he someone looking for a way to condemn or punish you? Is he an out-of-touch ol' curmudgeon who doesn't really know what it's like in our modern world? Is he too pious and holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves, including earning our salvation?
No. NO. NO!
God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality (John 1:14-18; Hebrews 2:14-18, 4:14-16). Why? Because he loves us and yearns to save us. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us or it, but to redeem it and each of us. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not condemn us. He's looking for ways to give us life, not to exclude us from his presence. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus, who was and is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Holy and Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing to be with those of us who are contrite and repentant and who long for your presence (Isaiah 57:15). You know we are only mortal, broken, but still you chose to love us in Jesus. You know that we are deeply flawed, but you've redeemed us. You know that we are not perfect, but God sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice to save us. Thank you. Through your Son and my Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God, I offer you my sincerest gratitude, praise, and life. Amen.

05/25/2026

Monday, May 25, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Let's just put this in cornbread English: "We must pump the brake on our speech and hit the throttle for our ears." When possible, we should let our emotional temperature cool for a few days before responding, pray to determine whether we need to respond, craft a response (written or verbal) with care, and then carefully edit and filter it before delivering our message — especially when we've had a zinger come our way. We keep our mouths shut, our hearts pure, and our ears open. Now, if we would all obey what James 1:19-21 teaches in this whole passage, we'd all be more blessed:
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Mighty and Holy God, you are incredible — beyond my comprehension. How you put up with all the drivel, senseless verbal barbs, gossip, and hurtful speech that your other children spew out is beyond my understanding. I ask you, dear Father, to release the Holy Spirit to convict my heart and guard my lips from any form of hurtful speech. So, dear Father, we ask that you develop the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and a genuine Christ-likeness in us (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that our words and hearts reflect you and bless others in the ways you desire. We pray this to treat others more as Jesus did. Amen.

05/24/2026

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Being "devoted to another in brotherly love" requires that our church talk — we're family, brothers and sisters, children of God — be more than mere words. We must enter into each other's lives, getting to know one another so that we can serve, love, and bless one another. The many "one another" commands of the New Testament remind us that this is the heart of being followers of Jesus. Each of us needs to ask ourselves: "What have I done lately to get more involved in the lives of my fellow Christians?" Devotion to others follows a commitment to know and be known by them, so that we can honor each other appropriately, love each other fully, and bless each other based on each person's needs.

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Father, thank you for giving me a worldwide family. Thank you for loving me so completely. Father, I ask that you help me be more open with myself and my time with those in your family. Give me a heart that burns to bless and be blessed by those you have made your children. Through our older brother, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

05/23/2026

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Being disappointed and dissatisfied with life can stem from a myriad of problems. For many of us, however, these disappointments are symptoms that we have focused too much on ourselves and have allowed ourselves to become angry with life. We have forgotten to count our blessings, neglected to give thanks to God, grown silent in our praise to our Father, and quit helping those around us. Thinking of others is how Christ lived, and we are going to live for others if we are going to have a JESUShaped life. When we follow his example, our actions make a difference in the lives of those we bless, and we find ourselves immensely blessed as well. Let's get our focus off ourselves and look to bless our neighbors! As the ancient Christian hymn Paul quoted reminds us:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Holy and matchless God, help me see the brokenness, hurt, and difficulties in the lives around me. Please also help me see the blessings, joys, and reasons to give thanks that you have placed in my life. I ask for the Holy Spirit's help to humble myself and find ways to bless others who so desperately need to experience the joy of your love and grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

05/20/2026

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Unity comes from God's Spirit as we all draw closer to Jesus (John 17:20-21). As we are drawn to Jesus through the Spirit, we immediately find ourselves drawn closer to one another (1 John 1:1-4). Unity also has a purpose much deeper than our getting along with each other. Jesus prayed we would be one so that the world would know that God sent him into the world as the Son to save the world (John 3:16-17, 17:21, 23). We want to be united so that our praise can bring glory to God and lead others to him. Unity is far more than a goal; it is a process through which the world learns of Jesus. At the same time, we glorify the Father who sent Jesus to save us when we live together in unity. Leading others to Jesus and glorifying God are what living for Jesus is all about! Let's make unity one of our deepest passions.

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Great and Almighty God, you are the eternal strength for all who call on your name. I apologize and ask your forgiveness for everything I've done and every word I've spoken that has hurt others in your family. I do not want to cause a wound to the unity of your Body, the church. So please, bless my efforts as I seek less of my will, long to live for your glory, and seek to draw close and encourage others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

05/17/2026

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God's plan to save us is incredible. His blueprints for the creation of our universe are beyond our imagining. He is so rich in wisdom and knowledge that we cannot even imagine his greatness. What else can we do but go to him and ask him to open our minds to his work, will, and presence in our lives? God is far greater than our minds can comprehend. His judgments are not fully comprehensible to us, and ways beyond us, but we do know this:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)
"Oh, the depth and riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!" And on top of his greatness, he loves us and has great plans for us. Oh, yes; God is gracious and good.

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

Precious and Almighty Father, thank you for reawakening me each spring to the power of your sustaining presence in the world and in my life. I see the beauty of creation reemerge, and it reminds me of your goodness, creativity, colorfulness, and grace. As I seek to put you first in all I do, please use me to bring you glory, and please, bless others through my thoughts, words, and deeds. In Jesus name, I thank you and praise you. Amen.

05/16/2026

05/15/2026

TODAY!!

05/15/2026

Friday, May 15, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"I don't know!"
This sure seems to be one of the hardest phrases for us to say. When thinking about God and his ways, especially his work on us and plans for us made when we were in the womb, that's really all we can say. "I don't know!" The truths we know about God and his ways with us when we were in the womb are only what he has chosen to reveal to us. He is the Mystery of mysteries. He is the supreme unknowable Knowable. Yet what we do know of him, what he has revealed to us in Jesus, is not only mighty and awesome, but loving, tender, and merciful. We know his love is willing to sacrifice for us, so we could seek after him and find his grace. So in reverence, we kneel to pray to the Father we cannot fully know — at least not yet, but will one day (1 John 3:1-3) — but can be fully assured that he loves us and wants us near to him.

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

To you, O Lord God, I offer my wonder and awe. When I consider the vastness of the universe in which our tiny blue planet spins through its existence, I am humbled by your wonderfully complex and expansive sovereignty, often expressed in tender mercy. As I ponder your greatness, dear Abba Father, I also treasure your nearness. You are the good Father who transcends space and time, yet you also are the almighty God who is ever near. Thank you for being accessible while being sovereign, available while not controllable. I thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus as I draw near to experience you more fully. Amen.

05/14/2026

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

You are made by God. Just as surely as ANYone has been made by God, we have been made by God. He knew us before anyone knew we were in the womb. He knew us before our mother had even felt our flutter inside of her. God had plans for us before anyone even planned our arrival. He fashioned us for his purpose with plans for our lives. He made us purposely, faithfully, and he made us wonderfully. We are wonderfully made by a loving Creator!

My 🙏🏻 Prayer...

God Almighty, my Savior and Redeemer, thank you for knowing me before I was able to know. Thank you for choosing my life and giving it to me. Thank you for giving me the gifts, abilities, and talents that you have given me. Now, dear Father, please help me to live with a reverential awareness that you fashioned me and knew me before my mother knew I was in her womb. O, Father, and please reawaken me to the sanctity and sacredness of every other person I meet, realizing that you fashioned and knew them from their conception, too! Through Jesus, I pray and thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Amen.