Maquoketa First United Methodist

05/31/2026

Welcome all,
It is nice to have each of you here. Near and far we can worship together and spread God's word.
We now have a way if you would like to help spread God's words. You are now able to donate online at Tithely.com Select: First United Methodist Church Maquoketa Or you can download the Tithely App
Thank you for all your support! With your continued support we can spread the word and good works of God

05/31/2026

Daily Devotion

Make Your Time Count
Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

The unity of the family is under attack in a serious way in our society today. Divorce rates continue to climb while marriage rates are slowing. Families are constantly ripped apart due to the relative ease by which a couple can terminate the covenant they made before God. Children do not know the security of having a healthy, stable upbringing, but live in a constant state of flux. This is not how God designed families!
You may have experienced the pain of divorce as a child or adult. And changing the world’s ideas about what makes a good family system might be difficult. However, doing something about your own family and changing it from the inside out is an attainable goal God can help you accomplish.
One of the places to begin is the prioritization of your time. We can say that family is important. We can tell our wives, or husbands, or children they are the most important people in our lives. Yet, when we act differently, they get another message loud and clear. To make someone a priority, you must make time for that person. Another way to show your family members they are important to you is by speaking words of affirmation over their lives. When your husband, wife, or children hear your words of approval, they get excited inside. We all know what it is like to hear that we did a good job, but it is even better to hear it from the people who are closest to you.
If you want to avert your own family crisis, begin to place the highest priority upon your relationship with your family. Not only will your family be blessed, but you will enjoy the rich fruits of having deep, meaningful relationships with those you love the most.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be one who strengthens my family and brings everyone together. May my family be ruled by Your peace and grace – a witness of Your love to the world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Daily Devotion

Preparing Your Kids For Trials
Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” 1 Samuel 17:32-37
When David was a young man, he tended the family’s sheep while his brothers went off to war. But even here, God was preparing David for the trials ahead. Sometime later, when the people of God were taunted and challenged by the Philistines, it was David who stepped forward to fight the giant Goliath. And it was his training as a shepherd, specifically his practice with a sling and his time alone with God, that prepared him to stand before the mightiest man of his day. You know the story. Goliath was defeated. The Philistines were beaten. David was victorious. But the battle was won long before David ever stepped foot on the battlefield. It was won when he learned to trust God back in the fields with the sheep.
God has called us to help prepare the next generation for the challenges and trials they will face by pointing them to God’s promises. One of the simplest ways to do this is to show them how we deal with struggles in our own lives. First, we should find opportunities to share the trials we are going through with our children. We live in a world that sugarcoats and filters everything, and if that’s all our children see, they won’t be prepared to face the brokenness of this world. But if we share our challenges with our kids, they will be better prepared to face their own troubles when they come. Second, we must remember that our trials are an opportunity to bring Scripture to life. During trials, we should read the Bible to our kids and show them God’s faithfulness. Tell them He was faithful then, He is faithful now, and we can trust Him. Finally, let us use times of trial to help our children focus on eternity. Our ultimate hope lies in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and no matter how tough things become, we have His promise that one day “He will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). Consider sharing some of the trials you face with your children so they can not only learn to expect difficulties in life—and so develop perseverance—but also learn to trust God in all circumstances—and so deepen their faith.
Prayer: Father, as I model trust in You with real-life challenges, may the faith of the next generation be strengthened. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

05/29/2026

Daily Devotion

Our Duty to the Next Generation
Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. Judges 2:10-11

It is each generation’s responsibility to pray for, train, and model faith in Jesus Christ to the next. One brief period of compromise can change a society forever. The generation who entered the Promised Land with Joshua—those who fought the battles and saw the mighty hand of God with their own eyes—remained faithful and walked with the Lord. But there arose another generation who had not experienced the saving power of God firsthand and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. See Judges 2:10-11. What happened between the time of Joshua’s generation and the generation “who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (v. 10)? There was a generation in between who, as they grew older and settled in the land, forgot God’s faithfulness and made compromises with the cultures around them.
These compromises were small at first, a broken commandment here, a nod to an idol there. But by the time their children came along, they were so at home with the Canaanites and the Baals, they didn’t even bother to tell their children the story of how God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt. There were no bedtime stories about the sun standing still, no campfire tales about the plagues that brought Egypt to its knees, and no discussions of manna and quail over Saturday morning breakfast. The intervening generation lost touch with the Lord one day at a time and, as a result, did not pray for their children, did not train them up in righteousness, and did not model the way of God for them. Thus, their children fell into the snares of the enemy.
Their story serves as a warning to all future generations: The emerging generation is our mission field. We cannot afford to lose them to our culture. But there is good news too. Just as God rescued His people when they cried out to Him in the book of Judges, He will rescue anyone today who turns from his or her sin in repentance. There is yet hope for a generation walking through the remains of a culture that has largely turned its back on God. We can yet pass on the baton of victory to the next generation.
Prayer: Lord, show me how to lead my children well, that I might pass on a legacy of faith to the next generation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

05/28/2026

🌍✝️ PEACE WITH JUSTICE SUNDAY — MAY 31, 2026 ✝️🌍

Joint Worship Service and Potluck Brunch

The United Methodist Churches of Maquoketa, Preston, and Delmar invite you to a special Joint Worship Service on Peace with Justice Sunday.

🕘 Sunday, May 31, 2026 — 9:00 a.m.
⛪ Worship Service in Maquoketa

Please note: There will be no worship services in Preston or Delmar that morning.

Peace with Justice Sunday is a special day in the United Methodist Church that supports ministries working toward peace, compassion, fairness, and justice in communities both locally and around the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers and to stand alongside those working for healing, dignity, and hope.

A special offering will be received during the service to support Peace with Justice ministries.

Following worship, everyone is invited to a potluck brunch in Fellowship Hall. This detail was unintentionally left out of earlier announcements. Drinks will be provided by the Maquoketa church, and guests are encouraged to bring a favorite brunch dish or item to share. All are welcome to stay for food, fellowship, and time together as one church community.

We hope you will join us for this meaningful morning of worship and fellowship.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

05/28/2026

Daily Devotion

How to Look at Your Problems
Pastor Rick Warren

I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. Philippians 1:12 NLT

If you want to be happy, you need to look at every problem from God’s perspective. Happy people have a larger perspective. They see the big picture, like God does. When you don’t see things from God’s point of view, you get discouraged, frustrated, and unhappy. No matter what’s going on in your life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—God is working out a plan. Paul knew this. He says in Philippians 1:12, “I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.”
After Paul became a Christian on the road to Damascus, he had one great dream: He wanted to preach in Rome, the center of power in the known world at the time. His dream was to preach the gospel in the most important city in the world. But God had another idea. Instead of sending Paul to Rome to preach crusades, God allowed him to become a royal prisoner of Nero. Nero was Caesar at that time—and a wicked and corrupt leader. As a prisoner, Paul was chained to a rotation of royal guards every day for two years. That means Paul had the opportunity to witness to thousands of guards. Who was the real prisoner here? Who had the captive audience? This wasn’t Paul’s plan, but it was God’s plan all along, and it produced amazing effects. There were two results that we know for sure.
First, Philippians tells us that the gospel became known throughout the whole palace guard, and that even some of Caesar’s own household had become believers because of Paul’s witness in Rome. Second, it was kind of hard to get a guy like Paul to stop moving. In prison, he was forced to be still, and, as a result, he wrote much of the New Testament, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon These books have revealed Jesus to countless people over the years.
Paul knew that God had a bigger plan. Because he trusted what God was doing through his problems, Paul could be happy. Any time you have a problem that’s starting to get you down, you need to do what Paul did: Learn to see it from God’s point of view. Ask, “What is God doing here? What’s the bigger picture? What’s the bigger perspective?” Then you’ll be able to face the problem in faith.

05/27/2026

🌍✝️ PEACE WITH JUSTICE SUNDAY — MAY 31, 2026 ✝️🌍

Join United Methodists around the world as we observe Peace with Justice Sunday — a special day dedicated to supporting ministries that promote peace, fairness, compassion, and social justice.

📍 Joint Worship Service of the
United Methodist Churches of Maquoketa, Preston, and Delmar.
🕘 9:00 a.m.
⛪ In Maquoketa

Please note: There will be no worship services in Delmar or Preston that morning.

This Special Sunday reminds us that faith is not only personal, but active. As followers of Christ, we are called to stand against violence, racism, inequality, and oppression while working to build communities of hope and healing.

Through our gifts and prayers, we support ministries that:
🕊️ Promote restorative justice and alternatives to violence
⚖️ Advocate for workers’ rights, migrants’ dignity, and human rights
🌱 Address environmental sustainability, food security, and social inequities
❤️ Challenge racism, economic injustice, and systemic oppression

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

05/27/2026

Daily Devotion

It’s Time to Put Down the Whip
Pastor Jeff Schreve

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Have you ever heard the story of Martin Luther? As a young monk, Luther wanted nothing more than to please God. But, like the rest of us, he struggled with sin and fleshly lusts. His way of dealing with this problem was to severely discipline his body. He felt that if he mistreated his flesh, it would somehow make him more godly. One day he took a trip to Rome to walk the 28 steps of Pilate’s Staircase, the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs). He climbed those stairs—on his knees! Surely this painful sacrifice would garner favor with God, right? As the pain intensified on his skinned knees, he heard the voice of God say to him, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” That revelation changed his life.
Are You Hurting Yourself? There are people today who still do hurtful things to their bodies thinking it will produce favor with God as they show Him they love Him. Some whip their backs until the blood flows to prove their love and atone for their sins. Others eat bland food, sleep on uncomfortable surfaces, and take a vow of silence. There are even some in the Philippines who endure an actual crucifixion every Good Friday to suffer for Jesus, show their commitment, and earn God’s favor. Can you imagine? Now I don’t suppose you are whipping your back over your sins, but are you beating yourself up nonetheless? Do you whip yourself emotionally, mentally and spiritually over the failures from the past? Lots of people say to themselves, “I am such a bum, a scum, and a loser. I committed this terrible, horrible sin. I am the worst! God must hate me. I hate me, too.” Whip, whip, whip. Regrettably, I have pulled out the emotional whip and beat myself silly over past sins and past failures. Have you?
IT’S CALLED GRACE Listen my friend, no matter what you have done, God certainly doesn’t hate you. He loves you! If you doubt that truth, simply take a mental trip to Calvary. Jesus took all the scourging, all the spittle, all the humiliation, and all the nails. He died for you and me, and “by His stripes we are healed.” He paid for all your sins and mine when He died on the cross. No matter how terrible the sin, we do not need to live under the whip of guilt and shame and condemnation because “there is therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” All the wrath of God for our sins fell on Jesus. The moment we repent and receive Christ as Savior and Lord, we receive a full pardon from the King. It is truly amazing grace! If you are inclined to beat yourself up over past sins, let me encourage you to stop! If you have committed some horrible sexual sin or had an abortion or hurt your family with tremendous selfishness or betrayed a friend or whatever, fully confess it to God. Get that sin out of the shadows and under Christ’s blood. Make necessary amends with those you have hurt…and put down the whip! Receive His grace and know that He does not have any condemnation for you if you are in Christ Jesus. The Lord told the repentant pr******te in Luke 7, “Your sins have been forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:48, 50). Go in peace, not condemnation and shame…“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)…