St. Paul United Methodist Church

Have you ever played the game Hide and Seek? At some point, I bet you have. In the game we want a hiding place so good that no one can find us. But have you noticed that if someone finds a place where they can’t be found, it isn’t long before they do something so that they can be found? Perhaps they move making a sound. Maybe they cough or even jump out and yell, “Coo-eee I’m here!” In the end, we want to be found.

I’m convinced that there are two types of people in the world: Hiders and Seekers. Some hide from others and from God and some don’t. They seek because they want to be found. Just like in the game, we all want to be found. The question is how long do we hide, which often comes at our own expense. The Good News is you don’t have to hide anymore. Be found today.

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Acts 17, Acts 18
• Tuesday – Acts 19, Acts 20
• Wednesday – Acts 21, Acts 22, Acts 23
• Thursday – Acts 24, Acts 25, Acts 26
• Friday –Acts 27, Acts 28
  
  
  Please Pray for:
• Those who are grieving and depressed.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Completion of New Youth Building and rear parking.
• The United Methodist Church.

Thinking about the holiness of God and the moral demands of Christianity, Philip Yancey said, “Having fallen from the absolute ideal, we have nowhere to land but in the safety net of absolute grace.  Praise God, that net will never let us slip through.”  I find great comfort in the net of grace that always holds.  

This net of grace is something we constantly need reminding of particularly when we find ourselves in need of forgiveness.  It is here that I like this prayer:

“Idealistic, gracious God, I don’t want to break our relationship for I want to live as a Christian disciple however hard its demands, because however hard its demands, this relationship of hard love is where I want to be and where I need to be.  Thankfully, through your grace it is where I can be.  Thank you again for that constant net of grace that catches me.  Amen.”

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Acts 8-9
• Tuesday – Acts 10-11
• Wednesday – Acts 12
• Thursday – Acts 13-14
• Friday –Acts 15-16

• Those who are grieving and depressed.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Completion of New Youth Building and rear parking.
• The United Methodist Church.

One of the books that I’m reading (at this moment) is The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer. When describing God’s goodness, Tozer wrote something that has enthralled my thoughts: “God has never been kinder than he is now nor will he ever be less kind.” Take a minute or two and allow that quote to whirl around in you mind. Seriously…stop for two minutes and just think on that quote.

God’s nature determines his actions. Because he is good, his actions are kind. He has never been kinder than he is now nor will he ever be less kind. How assuring. How comforting. Throughout this week, remind yourself of God’s goodness. God has never been kinder than he is now nor will he ever be less kind.

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Acts 2
• Tuesday – Acts 3
• Wednesday – Acts 4
• Thursday – Acts 5
• Friday –Acts 6, Acts 7

• Those who are grieving and depressed.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Completion of New Youth Building and rear parking.
• The United Methodist Church.