LoveFirst Coast

LoveFirst Coast Everything we do is about inviting, encouraging, equipping, and releasing people to live life on the

04/03/2026

God is good!

02/04/2026

God is good and full of grace!

09/09/2024

Humility Month Day 40: Who Makes All Things New?

“Begin with the end in mind”. That’s good, common sense. Playing on that idea, the Bible ends with the beginning in mind. What was lost in the Garden is made new and better in the New Jerusalem. And our future and our home is there... but we can’t drag our pride in with us. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

—Revelation 1:4-6, NRSV
--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: Revelation 21 and 22 are the last two chapters of the Bible. The work of God is wrapped up and Jesus declares, “Behold, I am making all things new!” Much of the imagery here is pulled from Genesis 1 – 3 with references to the gospels and prophets. The curse reverses. God’s people are comforted. What was lost is made new. Things will be set right in our relationship with creation, with others, with ourselves, and with God. It is a picture of shalom restored. Read and reflect on who God is and what God will do and look for our part in the on-going story!

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
Revelation 21:1-11,21:22-22:5

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
God is King! Let the earth be glad!
Christ is victor; his rule has begun. Hallelujah!
The Spirit is at work, renewing the creation.
Praise the Lord!

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
Perhaps it seems rather crude to describe glory as the fact of being “noticed” by God. But this is almost the language of the New Testament. St. Paul promises to those who love God not, as we should expect, that they will know Him, but that they will be known by Him (I Cor. viii.8) It is a strange promise. Does not God know all things at all times? But it is dreadfully reechoed in another passage of the New Testament. There we are warned that it may happen to any one of us to appear at last before the face of God and hear only the appalling words: “I never knew you. Depart from Me.” In some sense, as dark to the intellect as it is unendurable to the feelings, we can be both banished from the presence of Him who is present everywhere and erased from the knowledge of Him who knows all. We can be left utterly and absolutely outside—repelled, exiled, estranged, finally and unspeakably ignored. On the other hand, we can be called in, welcomed, received, acknowledged. We walk every day on the razor edge between these two incredible possibilities. Apparently, then, our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honour beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache. - CS Lewis

--- Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
You go no where by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you find yourself, God has a purpose for you being there. Christ Jesus, who lives in you by the power of the Holy Spirit, wants to do something in you and through you wherever you find yourself. I encourage you to believe this. And as you go forward, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you. May the Lord be gracious to you, and give you peace. Amen!

Sources:
(1) From Revelation 1:4-6 NRSV as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) From Our World Belongs to God, st. 2 as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(3) From The Weight of Glory by CS Lewis.
(4) From the Halverson Benediction by Dick Halverson combined with the Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 5.

09/08/2024

Humility Month Day 39: Is He Worthy?

Who is like our God? This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
God, in chorus with the most magnificent creatures, we declare
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was, and is, and it to come.”
With the greatest of mankind, we proclaim
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power.
For you have created all things, and by your will they have existed and were created.”
Be glorfied in our study this morning!

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: Revelation 4 and 5 provide a scene of on-going worship around the throne of heaven. (Sorry for the long read, but the chapters are relatively short.) Keep in mind that Revelation is apocalyptic literature filled with images and symbols. In today’s reading, Jesus – the Lion of Judah – is depicted as the Lamb who has been slain. Don’t get lost in the number 7. That number plays a major literary role in the letter. Just pay attention to how this worship service unfolds. Notice where Jesus is and consider where we will be in the congregation. Finally, notice what the text says about the work of humanity.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
Revelation 4 and 5

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
Lord Jesus, this text says you were slain, and by your blood you have ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Oh Lord, let that include us, and let us never forget who we are called to represent. Let us represent you faithfully.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The shepherds of the Alps have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing an evening farewell to one another. The air is so pure that the songs can be heard for very long distances. As the sun begins to set, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths while they sing, “thus far has the Lord helped us. Let us praise his name.” Finally, as is their beautiful custom, they sing to one another the courteous and friendly farewell “Goodnight! Goodnight!” The words then begin to echo from mountainside to mountainside, reverberating sweetly and softly until the music fades into the distance.
Let us all call out to one another through the darkness until the night becomes alive with the sound of many voices, encouraging God’s weary travelers. And may the echoes grow into a storm of hallelujahs that will break in thundering waves around His sapphire throne. Then as the morning dawns, we will find ourselves on the shore of the “sea of glass” (rev 4:6) crying out with the redeemed hosts of heaven, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever, and ever!” (Rev 5:13). “This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.” “And again they shouted “Hallelujah!” (Rev 5:13)

--- Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
To receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!
To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!
Amen!

Sources:
(1) From Revelation 4:8 and 4:11
(2) From Revelation 5:9-10
(3) From Streams in the Desert by LB Cowman, published in 1925
(4) From Revelation 5:12 and 5:13

09/07/2024

Humility Month Day 38: Cold, Hot, or Nauseating?

Who has the right to tell you about yourself? Our culture celebrates the individual, encourages us to find our identity in ourselves and to work toward things like self-actualization, self-esteem, and self-expression. It feeds our pride. The house it builds inevitably collapses. But what if there’s a better way? This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
You are the Sovereign God who holds our future.
You are the Suffering God who knows our pain.
You are the Creator God who made us. You know who we are.
You are the Covenant God who claims us. You bring us into your family. You call us by a new name. You give us a hope and a future.
Father God, by the power of your Spirit, speak to us we pray through Christ, Amen.

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: The Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature filled with images and symbols that brought hope to the early church in a difficult time. It was written to seven church, one of which was in Laodicea. Revelation 3 tells us they had the wrong idea about themselves. A lot has been written about the image of cold, hot, and lukewarm. But note that Jesus wants to share a meal with them. Imagine you want to serve a cold drink and hot soup, but keep your guest, Jesus, waiting at the door until everything is room temperature. We are encouraged to stop resisting fellowship with Jesus. Let him in. Don’t delay. Then humbly let the one who is faithful and true tell us who we really are.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
Revelation 3:14-22

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
All who thirst, come to the water and drink deeply of these living streams.
Come, all who are weary; come, all who yearn for forgiveness.
Our gracious God beckons and blesses us.
Let us give praise and thanks for new life in Christ.
God, lead us in to walk in the grace, truth, and light of your love.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The Heathen says, “The man that prospers is favored by the gods; the man who is unsuccessful is obnoxious to the Most High.” They do not know any better. Tose more enlightened easterners who talked with Job during his affliction got but little further. They believed that all who serve God have hedges around them and that God multiplies their wealth and increases their happiness. They saw in Job’s affliction a sign that he was a hypocrite. Thus, they thought that God had quenched his candle and put out his light.
Unfortunately, even Christians have fallen into the same error. They have been apt to think that if God lifts one up there must be some excellence in him. If He chastens and afflicts, they generally think that it must be an exhibition of wrath. Listen to the text and the riddle will be unriddled. Listen to the words of Jesus speaking to His servant John and the mystery is all unmysteried. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent” Rev. 3:19) – Charles Spurgeon

--- Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
May the light of God’s love push back the darkness.
We come to the light from the four corners of the earth,
We come from the north, from the south, from the east, and from the west.
We come from many nations and many cultures.
We come seeking the light that guides us to life.
Lord Jesus, let us walk with you today, for where else will we find the words of life.

Sources:
(1) Original
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, modified.
(3) From “Sacrifice” in Answering God by Eugene Peterson
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, modified.

09/06/2024

Humility Month Day 37: Getting the Heart Right

What is your heart telling you today? Culture tells us to trust our hearts. The Bible warns us that our hearts can be deceptive. We want to feel things are right in our heart. If we feel the tension, if our hearts are restless, we struggle and seek to put our hearts at peace. What can we do to get our hearts right? This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
God of light and truth, you are beyond our grasp or conceiving.
Before the brightness of your presence the angels veil their faces.
With lowly reverence and adoring love
we acclaim your glory and sing your praise,
for you have shown us your truth and love
in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: Most of us know that Jesus taught us love our neighbors. Moreover, he told his disciples to love one another as he had love them, as he loves us. But how? This section of John’s first letter contrasts the way of the world with the way of Jesus, and gets very practical: It calls us to laying down our life beginning with humble generosity.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
I John 3:11-24

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
God, shape us to be faithful stewards of the time, talents, and money you’ve given us.
Make us thankful, that we might give in gratitude and joy,
Make us prayerful, that we might serve in sacrifice and love,
Make us hopeful, that we want grow weary.
Through Christ our example we pray, Amen.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The work of God begins while we are asleep and without our help. He continues to work through the day in our worship and obedience. A sacrifice is the material means of assembling a life before God in order to let God work with it. Sacrifice isn’t something we do for God, but simply setting out the stuff of life for him to do something with. On the altar the sacrificial offering is changed into what is pleasing and acceptable to God. In the act of offering we give up ownership and control, and watch to see what God will do with it. With a deep awareness that the God who speaks life into us also listens when we speak, we put into words the difficulties and delights that we foresee in the hours ahead. We assemble fears and hopes, apprehensions and anticipations, and place them on the altar as an offering: “I prepare a sacrifice, and watch”. (Psalm 5:3b).

--- Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
God of all creation, your love endures forever.
You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.
Nourish us with these gifts, that we might live in the light of your love and
be in this world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Sources:
(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(3) From “Sacrifice” in Answering God by Eugene Peterson
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

09/05/2024

Humility Month Day 36: God Gives Grace to the Humble

All of us are eventually called to lead somewhere – if it’s just leading a friend or caring for a child or directing an organization – we will find ourselves in a position of leadership where we get the chance to lead like Jesus. Pursuing humility, like Jesus did, is contrary to our natural desires and contrary to the way of the world. However, it is the calling of every disciple and grace is found by those who know they need it. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
O God, you summon the day to dawn, you teach the morning to waken the earth.
For you the valleys shall sing for joy, the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
For you the kings of the earth shall bow, the poor and the persecuted shall shout for joy.
Your love and mercy shall last forever, fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise.
Great is your name. Great is your love. Amen

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: This section of 1 Peter was written to leaders of the local churches. When these churches gathered, they likely numbered fewer than fifty, would probably meet in homes, and functioned much like extended families. In this section, Peter is speaking to the leaders (shepherds) of these churches and reminds them of the example of Jesus.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are as we remember who you are!
I Peter 5:1-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
We cannot come before God unless we are first honest with ourselves about who we are,
about the mistakes we make, and about how well or poorly we care for others.
In this spirit, let us offer our prayers to God. Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
Many people have often been humbled, and yet they have not become humble. There is a great difference between the two. If God withdraws His grace and allows a Christian to fall into sin, that fall humbles him in the eyes of all good people, and yet he may not become humble. He may never give a true sense of how evil his actions have been. He may still persevere in his lofty spirit and be far from humility.
When this is the case, the proud spirit may expect a fall, for the rod will make wounds when pride is not abated with gentler blows. The most hopeful way of avoiding this humbling affliction is to choose to humble yourself. Be humble that you may not be humbled. Put yourself into a humble attitude and draw near to God in a lowly spirit, and He will cease chiding.

--- Let us receive this blessing from God today: (4)
Receive this good news: We are sinners loved by God.
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Let us live in the light of this good news!

Sources:
(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) With portions drawn from Psalm 79:9, NRSV as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(3) From “Grace to the Humble”, an excerpt from Beside Still Waters, daily readings from the works of Charles Hadden Spurgeon (19th Century)
(4) From I Timothy 1:15 and I Peter 2:24 as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.

09/04/2024

Humility Month Day 35: Getting Close to God

Double-mindedness: to want God’s favor and everything the worldly culture offers – especially power, influence, and wealth. Divided loyalties lead to divided hearts and divided churches. It leads to sin. But God has more grace than we have sin. And he shows us a better way: the way of humility. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
Almighty God, Your love for us and for all people is powerful beyond measure.
Your love is so vast that nothing will prevail against it.
We know this love is trustworthy because of Jesus Christ:
His life of compassion, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.
In life and death, we belong to you, holy triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: In this section of James, he takes on a common problem for God’s people: preferring the ways of the world to the way of God. James calls this “friendship with the world.” Ultimately, this divides our loyalties, threatens our fellowship, and leads to “double-mindedness”: we want God and the world. As Jesus warned us, we cannot serve two masters. Drawing from the Old Testament wisdom, James shows us how to put God first.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to remember who we are and who you are!
James 4:1-10

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
Almighty God, You have called us out of darkness into a marvelous light.
And we confess that we are often swept up in the tide of our generation.
We have failed in our calling to be your holy people, a people set apart for your divine purpose. Help us to turn our hearts toward you, to surrender our lives for you.
By your Holy Spirit, forgive us, revive us, and reshape us in your image. Amen.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
Jeremy Taylor writes, “Humility begins as a gift from God, but it is increased as a habit we develop. That is, humility is increased by exercising it.” In the excerpt below, he offers twenty examples of these exercises. Here are two:
“Sixteenth: Do not constantly try to excuse all of your mistakes. If you have made a mistake, or an oversight, or an indiscretion, confess it plainly, for virtue scorns a lie for is cover. If you are not guilty (unless it be scandalous), do not be overly concerned to change everyone’s opinion about the matter. Learn to bear criticism patiently; knowing the harsh words of an enemy can be a greater motivator than the kind words of a friend.
“Seventeenth: Give God thanks for every weakness, fault, and imperfection you have. Accept it as a favor from God, an instrument to resist pride and nurse humility. Remember, if God has chosen to shrink your swelling pride, he has made it that much easier for you to enter in through the narrow way!”

--- Let us receive this blessing from God today: (4)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Sources:
(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(3) From “The Grace of Humility”, an excerpt The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living, by Jeremy Taylor. (17th Century)
(4) From 2 Corinthians 13:14 as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

09/03/2024

Humility Month Day 34: No Favoritism

Favoritism – making distinctions and showing partiality - is back in fashion (as if it ever went out). Cultural commentators call it “tribalism.” We divide ourselves by status, age, politics, gender, ethnicity, education, etc. It shows up and brings divisions within God’s church. But God desires his children to be a loving family: the salt of the earth, a light shining in the darkness of our culture. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. I invite you to get a Bible and work through the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

--- Praise God with Me: (1)
O God of all creation, you alone are God and you alone can satisfy our longing
for a support that earth cannot give and that heaven will not take away.
Help us, in recognition of our common dependence on you,
to acknowledge our need of one another.
Let this recognition and acknowledgement make us one
You love us. Let this truth humble us and shape us to one another. Amen.

--- Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: Today we shift to the book of James – which was written by the brother of Jesus, who was a key leader in the early church. Privilege associated with cultural rank played an important role in the Roman Empire, and this cultural value was quite contrary to the church, where all were to be valued, seen as neighbors, loved, and “one in Christ Jesus”. James is writing o address divisions showing up in their fellowship based on rank.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to remember who we are and who you are!
James 2:1-13 Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

--- Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

--- With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
We pray, O Lord, for the Church, which is one in the greatness of your love,
but divided by the littleness of our love.
May we be less occupied with the things that divide us,
and more with those we hold in common and the love that enfolds us all. Amen.

--- Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
God’s exceeding desire to be loved comes from loving exceedingly. This is why Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.” He even calls us to esteem that which is most precious t us – our soul – as second to the love of God, for our Father wishes to be loved by us entirely.
When we do not love a person we do not wish to be with them, no matter how great or noble that person may be. But when we love someone, we want to be with them, and we view their love for us with great honor even if they are not a person of great rank. For this reason – and not because of our great rank – God values our love. So much, in fact, that he suffered greatly on our behalf.

--- Let us receive this blessing from God today: (4)
May the God who makes everything holy and whole,
make you holy and whole, put you together—
spirit, soul, and body—
and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.
The One who called you is completely dependable.
If he said it, he will do it! Amen.
—
Sources:
(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.
(3) From “Dying to Sin”, John Chrysostom (late 4th Century)
(4) From 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, The Message as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

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