United Church of Christ Inclusive Faith Ministry UCC IFM

United Church of Christ Inclusive Faith Ministry UCC IFM Acts 2:44 (KJV) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Psalms 133:1 (KJV) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

24/05/2026

(Luke 9:11-17)

And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

03/02/2024

VERSE
Matthew 2:4-6 (KJV) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

INSPIRATION
Christ was of not of royal blood or dynastic inheritance. He was not born in comfort accompanying with fanfare, but humbly in a stable, to parents of modest means. Yet he has come to govern the hearts of men, ruling not through fear but through the message of love and redemption. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem upon a donkey, he was showing its inhabitants not the King they expected, but the one they needed; a man embodying the word of peace, where all were equal in the eyes of the Lord. Not a ruler over men, but a ruler over hearts.

PRAYER
God, King over men, I thank you for your Son, born of Mary by your blessing. Grant us too, our humility. Let us not wander far from our fellow man, in pursuit of power, or in greed for domination over others. Liberate instead, my Lord, our hearts to become your servants. For you are our only true ruler, and Christ our guide towards your perfection. Amen.

26/12/2023

VERSE
Luke 2:6-7 (KJV) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

INSPIRATION
We return to the figure of the baby Jesus here, not draped in golden cloth, delivered within a palace to fanfare, but birthed at an inn, amongst the animals, emerging into this world a humble Son not above the majority of men. Jesus not only preached a gospel of venerating the lowly, the underprivileged, the plebian, but He Himself practiced it, living amongst them. Could we do the same? Could we celebrate God’s glory outside of the comfort of our current social strata or privileges?

PRAYER
Divine Glory and Love Everlasting, in Jesus’ name I pray. Lord make me more perfect each day, in the image of Your Son. Help me cast off what is not needed in my life, and instead show me what is truly important. Let me not show contempt or condemnation for any of Your children, no matter their status, for I know that we may all be Your prodigal sons and daughters, sinful and mistaken, but still nevertheless, loved and forgiven. Amen.

19/12/2023

VERSE

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

INSPIRATION

Good friends and family members have comforted me more times than I can remember when times were tough. My best friends comforted me without me even asking, seemingly knowing when I needed to be comforted. This is the way of the Holy Spirit, flowing through all of us to others in need. Submit it to the Spirit! Be comforted by it and comfort others with it! Praise be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

PRAYER

Precious God, the Holy Spirit binds all Christians together. Christ’s compassion taught us how to be comforted and how to comfort others, and I pray that You utilize my gifts to comfort others, gracious Lord! I ask that the next time someone around me needs to be comforted, You move me with the Spirit to positively touch them. I pray this in the name of the Father of compassion, Jesus Christ. Amen.

26/09/2023

VERSE
Proverbs 10:30 (KJV) The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

INSPIRATION
All men live and die, leaving this world to the next generation. And wicked men seem to live at least as long as righteous men do. But in the end, God will establish His Kingdom on the earth, and all of its inhabitants shall be righteous. The wicked shall vanish away from the earth, never to be found in it again for all eternity.

PRAYER
Lord, we see good men die young and wicked men live to a ripe old age. We see evil oppressors amass great wealth, while the godly often live in poverty. But the day is coming, we know, when the first shall be last and the last first, when unrighteousness shall no longer be found in the earth. Teach us not to envy the wicked when he gains worldly prominence, for we know his end if he repents not. Amen

27/04/2023

(VERSE)
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(INSPIRATION)
The word of God is so powerful; it is able to reform minds, compel hearts, and transform lives. When you read the word of God, or come into constant contact with God, through prayer, your life will never remain in the same way. The word of God contains life, and as we become exposed to it, that life comes into contact with our hearts and we are changed.

(PRAYER)
Dear God, I am grateful for the transforming power of your Word. Were it not for you and your Word, Lord, my life would be a mess. Your word has saved me from the clutches of darkness, and has brought me into the light. For this, my God, I am truly grateful. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

13/04/2023

(VERSE)
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(INSPIRATION)
In verse 10 of this chapter, "Israel His (God's) people" is referenced; in verse 13, "My people" is used in reference to Israel; and in verse 14, "My people" does not change reference. It refers to Israel. Thus, God says here that if Israel His people will humble themselves and repent of their wicked ways, He will heal their land. God will deal the same with any other nation, healing their land if national repentance takes place. But today, the only hope for national repentance is if repentance begins in the Church of God, for the world knows not God.

(PRAYER)
O Lord, we need not twist this verse to refer to the Church instead of Israel in order to learn its princple and apply it in our day and situation. It is true today as it was then that you will hear and heal when men of any nation turn from their wicked ways. We pray for such a revival, for we badly need it. We know that such a revival will need to begin in the Church. We pray you will revive each one of us and begin a mighty work, for which you will get all the glory. Amen

29/03/2023

(((DEVOTION)))

((BELIEF))

(WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF LENT)

(VERSE)
John 11:25-26 (KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

(INSPIRATION)
Jesus has come to Bethany because he has received word that his friend Lazarus is ill. He is speaking with Lazarus’ sister, Martha, who had complained to Jesus that he died because Jesus wasn’t there to heal him. Martha then went to get their other sister, Mary. This incident was a contributing factor in the determination of the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus and have him executed. Lazarus was not the first person that Jesus had raised from the dead. He had raised Jairus’ daughter and the son of the widow of Naim. So, what was the difference? The difference was the length of time that Lazarus had been in the tomb. In Jesus time, there were no medical ways of determining death, and because of both tradition and the heat in that part of the world, the Jews buried their dead on the day of death. I’m sure that there were mistakes made, and people could easily have said that the two people Jesus raised weren’t really dead. However, when Jesus told those who were mourning with Martha and Mary to roll back the stone, they protested because after four days, there would be a stench. But they did as Jesus asked, and when Jesus called out to Lazarus, he came out. There was no doubt that there was something special about this man Jesus! Many more people began to believe in him. This frightened the leaders who were afraid that the Romans would persecute them and take away their religious freedom and their nation. From that time on they plotted his death. We are approaching the end of Lent. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead before he came to Martha and Mary so that he could show them the power of God. How has he shown God’s power to you or to me this Lent?

(PRAYER)
Loving God, you always come at the right time to answer our prayers. It isn't always what we want, but it is what will help forward your plan for us. May we see your presence and your glory ever day of our lives.

16/03/2023

(((DEVOTION)))

((WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO))

(THE WORD OF GOD WILL STAND UNTIL THE END OF TIME)

(VERSE)
Luke 4:24, 27 (KJV) And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

(INSPIRATION)
This passage from Luke follows his going to the synagogue and reading a passage from Isaiah claiming that it was fulfilled by him. They were so angry that they drove him to the edge of a hill and threatened to throw him over. When I needed a speaker for one of my adult groups, I always asked one of my friends from a different community for the very reason stated in this passage. I always said that an “expert” was someone from somewhere else! I called them; they called me for the same reason. Who do you listen to? When my children were young, the mother of one of their friends was much wiser than I was – even if we said the exact same thing. Do you ignore the wisdom of a friend or relative because you’re not sure they know what they’re talking about? Life is funny like that. The older I get, the younger the doctors, dentists, and other experts are that I depend on. And the older I get, the more I seem old fashioned and out of date by my grandchildren! I wonder if the younger experts know what they’re talking about and the grandchildren wonder if I can understand their world. One thing is for sure, we can always depend on the Word of God to never be out of date or out of touch with the world. Yes, we sometimes need to reexamine the Scriptures in light of new knowledge, but the Word of God will stand until the end of time. We need to listen and believe.

(PRAYER)
Heavenly Father, you are the creater of this world that we live in and you gave us all that we need to know to live a good life as well as to inherit eternal life. Please give us the wisdom to follow your word. Amen

01/03/2023

(((DEVOTION)))

((THE SPIRITUAL FOOD))

(WE WILL NEVER BE FREE OF THE TEMPTATIONS IN OUR LIVES BUT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO OVERCOME THEM _ THE HOLY SPIRIT)

(VERSE)
Matthew 4:1-4 (KJV) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(INSPIRATION)
This reading is very familiar to us. Jesus has just been baptized by John and now goes into the wilderness to prepare himself by prayer and fasting for his public ministry. Enter the devil! Today, Jesus is being offered pleasure, power and wealth by the devil. He responds by looking to the Scriptures for his answers. We all can be tempted by some good because no one thinks they are purposely choosing evil. This is a model we can follow as we navigate our way through life. There will always be the “road not taken” or missed opportunity, but we can always find help along the way as we make decisions. Now, giving in to a candy bar may not be a big deal for most, but continuing to make poor food choices can be. Playing a computer game isn’t a big deal either, unless you are so “hooked” that you are spending money that could be used for food or bills on something that is advertised as “free.” We will never be free of the temptations in our lives but we have been given the power to overcome them – the Holy Spirit. We only need to ask, and the Spirit will give us the wisdom and strength we need to do the right thing. And if we fail? Well, then Jesus has given us a way back – ask for forgiveness. We pray in the Our Father, “Lead us not into temptation,” but God is there both to help us overcome it as well as to bring us forgiveness when we fail.

(PRAYER)
Loving God, you have sent your Son as a model for us to follow. As we enter into our season of lent, help us to be aware of the things in our lives that can lead us away from you. Amen

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