Hineni is the word that God’s people used to answer His call down through the ages. It means ‘Here I am!’ Jacob said it. The problem was, it wasn’t his call that he was answering. His father was expecting his older brother Esau, and Jacob said, ‘Hineni!’ He was pretending to be Esau. Though his father unknowingly blessed him, Jacob would pay the price of his dishonesty for years. His true blessing would only come after a wrestling match that ended with the Lord asking him, ‘What’s your name?’ This time he said the truth, ‘Jacob.’ By doing it, his name was changed to ‘Israel.’

A profound truth for your life is you can’t answer someone else’s calling. You’ll never find God’s perfect will for your life if you’re trying to be somebody else. Hineni isn’t about trying to be anything other than who you are. Hineni simply means, ‘Here I am, as I am, with no pretense.’ You can’t answer the call of Esau. God has a better call with your name on it. Stop trying to answer a call or fulfill a role that isn’t you. You’ve got your own calling. Answer it.

TODAY’S MISSION – Today, seek to please no one but God Himself. Seek to do all things for His eyes only. And simply be who you are in His presence.

German reformer Martin Luther set out to execute the first major translation of the Bible into the German language. First he had to find out how Germans really talked. He disguised himself and with a newly grown beard and the name ‘Squire Jorg,’ snuck out into the marketplace listening to how common people spoke everyday German. Then he went back to his room and with a copy of a Greek New Testament began translating the New Testament into German which brought God’s Word to the German masses. There are people in your life who need to hear the Word of God translated into a language they can understand. It’s not enough to just tell them what God’s Word says. You have to translate into the language of their everyday life. Find the connection of relating God to their heart, their needs. Luther didn’t just translate, he listened to them. Often, we throw out God’s Word without really listening, seeing, loving as God loves. Want them to hear? Listen. Want them to see? Look. Want them to know God’s heart? Get to know their heart. Become a Squire Jorg and your translation will be a success.

TODAY’S MISSION – Seek to find an unsaved person today and witness to them simply with love, by offering to help, by meeting their need, by being gracious to them.

Today’s Verse:
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want. – Matthew 26:39

This verse takes place while Jesus is praying in the garden, the night before his crucifixion. The “cup” is his death on the cross. Jesus knows that His crucifixion is part of God’s plan, yet He pleads to God to take the cup from Him. Yet Jesus is willing to remain obedient to the point of death if that’s what God wants. Jesus knew the purpose God had given Him was greater than Himself and that it was meant for Him specifically.

If we follow Paul’s story in the Bible, we also see that he realized his purpose was far greater than himself. Despite his hardships, pain, thorns, and weaknesses, Paul served a greater purpose until the point of death. Nothing phased Paul; he kept going and enduring. I think this is because he truly believed that everything in his life was meant for a purpose and God would use it.

How would you live your life if you truly believed God had a purpose for every moment? – Commentary by Kristina Taylor

Today’s Prayer:
God, thank You for giving us a purpose that outlasts the ages and for giving us something to always strive for! Please help us to take the responsibilities we have and do Your will. Inspire us to be unstoppable for your Kingdom. Amen.

Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it. Deuteronomy 6:1

Being a follower of Christ is so much more than just going to church. Being a Christian means that we have someone who is with us to guide us, teach us, inspire us, comfort us, strengthen us, empower us, and everything else we need for life and living. That’s the reason that if we did go to church yesterday but “left God there,” it means we don’t actually have a relationship with Jesus…we only have an appointment. It would be like going to see the doctor and they tell us what to do to make us better but refuse to take our meds, eat better, and exercise. What good was the appointment? But as it says in Deuteronomy 6, now that we have been given the “prescription” for living through God’s statues and judgments, we need to “do them in the land where you are going over to possess it.” So if you enjoyed your Doctor’s visit yesterday at church, either in person or online, great! But now follow the Doctor’s orders to a life of healing and recovery! He knows best!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you physical and spiritual Mothers today. We want to acknowledge and appreciate each and every one of you today.

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you.

To those who lost a child this year—we mourn with you.

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains—we appreciate you.

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions or running away—we mourn with you.

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears and disappointment—we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make things harder.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms and spiritual moms—we need you.

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children—we celebrate with you.

To those who have disappointment, heartache and distance with your children—we sit with you.

To those who lost their mothers this year—we grieve with you.

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother—we acknowledge your experience.

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests and the overall testing of motherhood—we are better for having you in our midst.

To those who have aborted children—we remember them and you on this day.

To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children—we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be.

To those who stepparent—we walk with you on these complex paths.

To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you.

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year—we grieve and rejoice with you.

To those who placed children for adoption—we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart.

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising—we anticipate with you.

Today each of you are in our prayers and we pray that you all have a very blessed a d special day and that God will make His face to shine on you and bless you and keep you all close to himself today and everyday.
We love you
Pastor Mike

Today’s Verse: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4  Selfish ambitions and conceit can lead to apathy and conflicts. That is why the Apostle Paul warned and encouraged them to put the interests of others above theirs and be humble. Selfish ambitions like the desires for money, fame, and power can destroy the bond of the brethren. It can lead to divisions, quarrels, and other things which are not fruitful. Each person has individual needs that have to be satisfied. Some need to be loved, accepted, cared for, and appreciated. We all have these kinds of needs, but the key to this is not to spend our lives trying to selfishly get them met. Spend your life being generous in fulfilling other people’s needs, and in that giving, you will experience a blessing. Our church, relationships, and families may not be perfect, but think about what it would be like if everyone tried to accept, appreciate, care and love others. – Commentary By Jeremy B. Trio  Today’s Prayer: Lord, forgive me for being selfish, and in seeking what satisfies me rather than thinking about how I can serve others. Help me to see the needs of others, and inspire me to take action and be a blessing to them. Amen.

Today’s Verse:
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. – Proverbs 3: 6-8

Throughout scripture, we see that humans have a constant struggle between flesh and Spirit. Romans 8:13 says, “for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Depending on how long you’ve lived the Christian life, you most likely can reflect and see how choices you’ve made were ruled either by your flesh or by the Spirit. Our Lord has a much higher perspective of our lives than we do. If you can, picture a mountain. At the top of the mountain is the Lord, and He can see all around it, every perspective and angle because He is at the top. Climbing up the sides of the mountain are us. We have a minimal view of perspective and angle. If we’re climbing the south side of the mountain, we can’t see the perspective on the other sides. We can only see the Southside. We must understand that the Lord sees it all in its full perspective and He will always guide us down the correct path while refreshing us at the same time. – Commentary by Kristina Taylor

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, help us not to be blinded by the trials of this life. I pray that we would be aware of the blinders we put on when we become worried. Help us to always put our trust in You, and to remember You are in control, see it from every angle, and know what’s best for us. Amen.

Today’s Verse: Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything  worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and have heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9   In a talk given by Dr. Lisa Penney, whose life work is studying human behavior, she stresses over and over again to her audience the importance of being careful with the kind of information we feed our minds. It reminded me of the countless warnings I’ve read in the Holy Scriptures about guarding our hearts and minds and being mindful of our thoughts. Dr. Penney emphasizes that your thoughts become your words, words become your actions, actions become your habits, habits become your character, and character shapes your destiny. The human mind is complicated and difficult to understand. However, we don’t need a doctorate to know that if we feed our minds junk, nothing good will come from it for it will only produce junk thoughts and actions. So, instead of engaging in idle words, gossip, dwelling in unforgiveness, we should diligently be careful with what we introduce to our minds and have a steady input of true, noble, honorable, pure, commendable, and pleasing thoughts. – Commentary by Mark Natividad  Today’s Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, forgive me for dwelling on ungodly thoughts and engaging in gossip. Lord, please cleanse me of unrighteous thoughts and replace it with goodness, forgiveness, and mercy. Please help me to be extra careful with what I think about and dwell on. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Verse: 

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. – Psalm 47:6

I love this verse! In this crazy world, who on earth has time to sing? Who is in a mood to sing anyway, considering all the problems and troubles we are facing? Many are not aware that singing and praising God is crucial. Man has always sung; singing is a part of his being. It is a miraculous and divine thing. We should sing and praise God as often as we can. We should open our hearts to Him when we sing, and we will be filled with joy and peace. When I feel stressed and overwhelmed, I call my children and tell them, let’s sing praises to God, and we start singing. I often sing when I have pain in my heart. After a while, I start feeling like God’s grace has filled the room, and He has chased away all the worries from my heart. Suddenly life isn’t so gloomy anymore. So I keep on singing, and in my joy, I thank God trusting that everything will be alright. – Commentary by Irina Radosavljevic

Today’s Prayer:
Heavenly Father, all praise and glory are Yours forever. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and let me feel your awesome, wonderfully loving presence. Amen.

Today’s Verse: By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. – Hebrews 11:3  When God created the earth, He commanded everything to happen. Not only does this show us the supernatural power of God during creation, but it also shows us His great authority. If God created the world purely by His hands, crafting and forming every detail, then we could say that He used his ability and not His authority. But God commanded, and with His words, everything happened. Just like when He created light, He just simply says “Let there be light” and then light appears. It shows us that from the beginning of time, God displayed His authority over everything in the world. When Jesus came and performed miracles, these miracles were also a display of authority not of ability. This reminds us that God is worthy of our worship and submission. Every knee should bow down to Him, praise His name and honor Him. That is why God demands worship and obedience, and He wants us to make Him the Lord of our lives. – Commentary by: Jeremy B. Trio Today’s Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my defiance and disobedience. Help me to submit to you always and to offer you the worship that you deserve. Amen.