Espyville Community Church

#choosewisely #lovelife #choices #letitgo #forgive #bless #pray #jesusistheway #thetruth #thelife #guardyourheart #lettheoffensego #notimetohate #lettheangergo #letthebitternessgo #thejoyofthelord #ismystrength #spiritofheavinessbegone

Advent 3: Read: But now, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter. All of us are the work of your hand. Don’t rage so fiercely, Lord; don’t hold our sins against us forever, but gaze now on your people, all of us. Isaiah 64:8-9... Think: In prayer, Isaiah envisions himself and all of the people as clay in the hands of God. In his vision God is the potter, and Isaiah wants God to shape them in a loving, tender way. In our own lives we may be able to see where God is reshaping us. Sometimes, we are not able to see it but others can. Have you noticed the places in your life where God is forming you? How about in others? Make time today to acknowledge the beauty of God working in yourself and others. Remember, we are all a work of God’s hands. Pray: Lord, I am like clay in your hands. Shape me into a beautiful vessel of your love. Amen Devotionals taken from D365

https://youtu.be/c8GG1tPa94Q

Advent 2: From ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any god but you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him! You look after those who gladly do right; they will praise you for your ways. But you were angry when we sinned; you hid yourself when we did wrong. No one calls on your name; no one bothers to hold on to you, for you have hidden yourself from us, and have handed us over to our sin.... Isaiah 64:4-5, 7 Think: In this passage, Isaiah participates in the difficult work of confession. He confesses to God the sins of his people, and how this sin has caused him to feel distant from God. Confession brings us to God and prepares our hearts for healing with God and others. Confession is good for us. It’s like that icky medicine I took as a child. It doesn’t go down easy all the time, but it is necessary for healing. What might you confess to God today that will open your heart towards healing? Pray: Lord, here I am. All of me. Cleanse me of my sins and make me new. Amen. Taken from d365 devotionals

Advent 1: Have you ever had to wait for something that you really wanted? For me, this type of longing always comes around Advent and Christmas, when I am longing to spend time with my family. In our passage, Isaiah and Israel are longing too. They’re longing for the mighty acts that God had done in the past. They longed for miracles like the deliverance at the Red Sea, where no one could dispute God's presence among them. But with no mighty movements in sight, all they could... do was long and wait. Waiting on God can be difficult. This is true for me as I count the number of gatherings I have had to cancel as a result of COVID-19. I long to be with my family and my friends. Isaiah does not get the mighty acts that he longs for. Sometimes we don’t get what we long for either at least not in the timing that we prefer. In waiting we learn to trust God. Emmitt Drumgoole Pray: God, I am not always good at waiting. Help me to trust you, in the mighty acts and in the silent nights. Amen

Worship moment: Make our hearts your home Lord Jesus https://youtu.be/dOFlW6kt7DY