June 2021 Devotionals

 Wednesday Devotional - 6/2/21

Prayers:

Continue to remember those that are sick within our community. We have so many these days, it seems overwhelming sometimes. But God will provide us the strength and stamina to be prayerful for these requests, if we only ask of Him!

Also, be in prayer for the Kingdom impact of VBS at Mount Lebanon. Please pray that we will be focused on how to reach these children for Christ, and that we will build up God’s word in them.

Announcements:

Suches Brushes will be meeting on Mondays at 9 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate. Come be creative in the Fellowship Hall, and enjoy time making beautiful artwork together.

THIS SUNDAY!, June 6th after church is our Mother’s appreciation luncheon. We will be honoring our mothers after church with a meal. Please make plans to come and join us!

On June 20th, we will be having our VBS kickoff at 4 PM. We will be having a cake walk, inflatables, and a cookout. Make sure to register your kids or grandkids for VBS on that day!

From June 21-25, Vacation Bible School will be happening. Come see what God is building with Concrete and Cranes!

On July 4th, we will be having a cookout to celebrate our nation’s independence. Make sure to come that Sunday for a good service and wonderful fellowship afterwards.

Finally, at church we are doing a study on the book of Revelation for our Sunday School at Mount Lebanon. This coming week we will be studying about the purpose of Revelation. While it may seem obvious to some of us, it might be something that you’ve wondered about! If you are interested, we meet at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall.

Devotional:

One of the favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph in the Old Testament. He has some of the most unbelievable stories associated with him, from being sold into slavery by his brothers, to becoming the second highest man in the land of Egypt, to his multicolored coat. But he is much more than just a collection of stories. He was a great leader, and would take much of the pragmatic leadership of his father Jacob, but apply it to a decision-maker and strategic style of leadership.

When we reread the story of Joseph in Genesis, he is a person given very specific gifts from God. However, sometimes those gifts of leadership, especially when he was a younger man, got him into trouble. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this is when he has the dream of the sheaves bowing to him, and then the dream of the stars bowing to him. This enraged his brothers (something of a family trait, considering their uncle!), and they plotted originally to kill Joseph, but would sell him into slavery. He would end up in the house of one of Pharaoh’s officials, and would end up in prison when he refused to be seduced by Potiphar’s wife! But, as shown in Genesis 39:20-23, “while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”

This is just but one example of the life of Joseph where God blessed him with favor in a bad situation. But Joseph would take that opportunity to grow as a leader. Being the problem solving leader that he was, he was able to make good decisions that resulted in lasting solutions. Even though he was faced with adversity in many different ways, he was able, through the power and favor of the Lord, to overcome that adversity and triumph in his position. The greatness of the kind of leader that has the problem solving style is that they are adaptable to any amount of people. They could be leading one or they could be leading a million, but their ability to look at the big picture and make the kind of solution that benefits everyone is invaluable.

But this is not the end of the story for Joseph. As he aged, his leadership style changed a bit. He was still very much a problem solver. That never went away. But what he did become in addition to this was a strategic leader. This is the type of leader that can make decisions that not only are good for the here and now, they are strategically made using the information that they can obtain for the long term. Joseph was a great example of this kind of leadership because he, with God’s vision for him, saw the upcoming famine and made the kind of decision that saw first, saw farther, then saw farthest. Through proper planning, he was able to save Egypt from famine and to help extend control over adjacent regions. He was able to plan ahead so that the problems that he faced were controllable. He was also able to sell his plan to his superiors, and was able to win over those in control so that he could have the authority to implement his plan. His plan managed resources on an even keel, and this permeated into his personal life as well. Through planning, God can use a person like this to achieve great things through the Holy Spirit! Because of Joseph being willing to listen to God, he was able to become a strategic planner that saved his family, and saved Egypt.

Memory Verses:

Luke 21:29-33

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourself and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Wednesday Devotional 6/16/21

Prayers:

We would like to remember the fathers of our community as we lead up to Father’s Day this coming Sunday. We are thankful to our fathers, but especially are thankful that we have a Heavenly Father that we can call upon and follow.

Remember those that are sick within our community. We know of a few for certain that have been hospitalized this previous week as they have dealt with various illnesses. Pray that God will continue to heal them and make them stronger!

Pray also specifically for the work that God is having us do. This previous Sunday, we talked about the work that God gives us and ordains us to do. Pray that God will lead us to do that work, and to have the kind of joy that only he can provide to us through it.

Finally, pray for the workers and the participants of the upcoming VBS at Mount Lebanon Baptist. We are feeling very strongly that God is going to do great things during this upcoming week. Pray for good weather, and that all that are involved will get blessed through this!

Announcements:

Suches Brushes will be meeting on Mondays at 9 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate. Come be creative in the Fellowship Hall, and enjoy time making beautiful artwork together.

THIS SUNDAY! We will be having our VBS kickoff at 4 PM. We will be having a cake walk, inflatables, and a cookout. Make sure to register your kids or grandkids for VBS on that day!

From June 21-25, Vacation Bible School will be happening. Come see what God is building with Concrete and Cranes!

On July 4th, we will be having a cookout to celebrate our nation’s independence. Make sure to come that Sunday for a good service and wonderful fellowship afterwards.

On August 1st, we will be celebrating our 150+1 Homecoming Celebration. Since we missed our 150th Anniversary last year, we will be celebrating 150+1 instead! We will have special music provided by the Pressley Girls. More details will be coming about this very special celebration.

Finally, at church we are doing a study on the book of Revelation for our Sunday School at Mount Lebanon. This coming week we will be studying the symbols and numerology of Revelation. If you’ve ever wondered why the number 7 is so prominent within the book, come and find out what! We meet at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall.

Devotional:

As we continue this look into leadership styles, I hope that you have found it to be as interesting as I have. There are only a few more styles to look at, and then we will be moving towards something else for these devotionals. I hope that these are giving you something to think about, and something that you can apply within your own life! 

Today, we look at an interesting type of leadership style that fits many of us when we look back to the days of our youth. This particular style is that of the growing leader. A growing leader is one that continually shows growth in different situations within their own lives. This may sound somewhat of a natural thought, since we know that we grow in stature, in knowledge, strength, and in faith, but there are many who never grow in their leadership beyond a certain point or beyond a certain stage. Generally, these types of leaders show their natural leadership capabilities very early in life, and they continually change and grow as they age. They never find a place where they are overmatched. From the Christian perspective, this type of growing leader is one that can utilize their spiritual gifts in ways that are not dependent upon just a single gift from the spirit to be a leader. They are able to combine various aspects of their gifts and continue to improve upon them throughout their lives to reach their maximum potential. This type of leader is also capable of using all laws of leadership to maximize their potential as well.

Our Biblical example of this kind of growing leader is King David. As a young man, he killed lions and bears with his bare hands to protect his flock. He slew Goliath, and eventually would be anointed and become king over a united kingdom. There are some important steps to follow in David’s path to see his growing leadership role. The first is that he sought after God with his heart. Within I Samuel 16:7, it states that God told Samuel not to look at the outward appearance of David, but to his heart. He was not very tall, and his composure was not the best. God knew that he had a heart that would carry him through tribulations.

Next, David served under another person so that he could grow. He did this in Saul’s court, and through this sort of internship, David saw what would happen to a leader once they became stagnant. This is important to note because it is through working with those who are more advanced in leadership that a great deal of principles can be learned. However, it should be noted that a leader must decide for themselves what of the elder leader they want to adopt and what to leave behind.

Subsequently, David had a willingness to serve God. When he faced Goliath, he went with a heart that was full of willingness. Through this, God used him, and his reputation began to grow even larger. It is shown in I Samuel that the Israelites sang his praises, and this went further to strengthen the relationship that he had with those that he led. Connecting with those that a leader is leading helps them to create the kind of environment where they can continue to grow. It also is a place where those that follow can buy into the leadership.

David had to learn how to relate to different kinds of followers and adapt his leadership style to accommodate the needs of the situation and of those that he led. When Saul chased David into the wilderness, David accepted anyone who would come to him. This is important to note because it helps a new leader realize that not everyone who is within the church will be the ‘perfect’ congregant. There are always needs that need to be filled, and by being fluid in a leadership role, the leader can continue to learn and grow. It is also directly connected with the size of the following group. By continuing to grow as a leader and triumphing through tough situations, then a group will grow and the leader’s influence will grow with it.

Milestones are another factor in showing growth in a leader. When Saul died, David became king over Judah. This was one of David’s major achievements, and reminds leaders that while all glory is God’s and should be acknowledged as such, clear goals and milestones help in realizing growth in a leadership position. A worldly example of this are testing in jobs to make sure that new information has been learned and applied.

Through his earlier experiences, David was able to use this to expand his kingdom later in life. Through civil war, David took over Israel, and was able to take over what he wanted. After this happened, he extended his leadership to include those who were willing to accept him. He reached out to those who were outside his sphere of influence, and was able to win over his enemies. These ideas are important to take to heart because not everyone will always agree with the leadership style of a growing leader. By reaching out to those who are against a leader and coming to a compromise, both sides will be able to win. 

Memory Verses:

Luke 21:29-33

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourself and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Wednesday Devotional - 6/23/21

Prayers:

As we are in the midst of VBS right now, please continue to pray for the workers, but also the children that are attending the VBS at Mount Lebanon Baptist. We have been having a great time with the kids so far, and we know that God is doing great things here through this. Pray that we will see God move greatly, and that he keeps His hedge of protection around us as we finish the week.

Remember those that are sick within our community. We know of a few for certain that have been hospitalized this previous week as they have dealt with various illnesses. Pray that God will continue to heal them and make them stronger!

Announcements:

Suches Brushes will be meeting on Mondays at 9 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate. Come be creative in the Fellowship Hall, and enjoy time making beautiful artwork together.

On July 4th, we will be having a cookout to celebrate our nation’s independence. Make sure to come that Sunday for a good service and wonderful fellowship afterwards. Also, we are hoping that many people will come to the fireworks being presented by the Suches Volunteer Fire Department. Make plans to sit together so we can enjoy the show as a church family!

On August 1st, we will be celebrating our 150+1 Homecoming Celebration. Since we missed our 150th Anniversary last year, we will be celebrating 150+1 instead! We will have special music provided by the Pressley Girls. More details will be coming about this very special celebration.

Finally, at church we are doing a study on the book of Revelation for our Sunday School at Mount Lebanon. We will be covering a new section on the book of Revelation. If you’ve ever wondered what that book is all about, come and see! We meet at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall.

Devotional:

One of the hardest leadership styles to account for is that of the crisis leader. This is the kind of leader, for reasons that are either caused by themselves or by sources that are out of their control, have a difficult time leading others because they are usually forced to control an out of control situation. When a person is able to be a crisis manager and do it in the right way, they glorify God greatly! But if not, they are often cast aside and blamed for whatever problems they have not fixed.

One of the greatest kings of the Old Testament was Hezekiah. We know that he was a real person, not only from the Bible and knowing its truth, but also from archaeological evidence from other places around the Holy Land. During his reign, he would be faced with many different obstacles and crises. This might be what led him to die of natural causes only when he was 54 years old. As it says in 2 Kings 18:5-8, “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given to Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.” As we can see even within this small set of verses, he dealt with the crisis of not serving a foriegn king and successfully defending his kingdom from the Assyrians, but also pushed out the Philistines from the land given to God’s people. But other issues would arise for him. 

Hezekiah would be faced with other forces out of his control that would make crisis after crisis for him. At one point, he was at the point of death because of an infection, all while others were planning to destroy his kingdom. What did he do, though? In 2 Kings 20:2-3, is reads “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” He went directly to the Lord, and because this was what he did, he was delivered from earthly death for another 15 years. During that time, he would fortify the city of Jerusalem and continue to lean upon the understanding that God allowed him to be a great ruler.

And that is the true key to being a successful crisis manager. By working with God to resolve crises, future problems may be diverted. A crisis manager is able to identify the problem, to know who they can lean on for the correct advice, but also to know that it is only through God’s strength and power that it will truly be resolved. A person will seek the wise counsel of the Lord Most High, and when they do, they will often be shown exactly how to resolve their problems.

Memory Verses:

Luke 21:29-33

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourself and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Wednesday Devotional 6/30/21

Prayers:

We want to thank everyone so much for the prayers for our VBS this last week. We had 25 children come and participate, plus around 20 workers as well. Besides the great camaraderie that we enjoyed with the Lord, the kids raised nearly $800 for the Appalachian Christian Project! Praise the Lord! 

Remember those that are sick within our community. We know of a few for certain that have been hospitalized this previous week as they have dealt with various illnesses. Pray that God will continue to heal them and make them stronger!

Announcements:

Suches Brushes will be meeting on Mondays at 9 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate. Come be creative in the Fellowship Hall, and enjoy time making beautiful artwork together.

THIS SUNDAY on July 4th, we will be having a cookout to celebrate our nation’s independence. Make sure to come that Sunday for a good service and wonderful fellowship afterwards. Also, we are hoping that many people will come to the fireworks being presented by the Suches Volunteer Fire Department. Make plans to sit together so we can enjoy the show as a church family!

On August 1st, we will be celebrating our 150+1 Homecoming Celebration. Since we missed our 150th Anniversary last year, we will be celebrating 150+1 instead! We will have special music provided by the Pressley Girls. More details will be coming about this very special celebration.

Finally, at church we are doing a study on the book of Revelation for our Sunday School at Mount Lebanon. This week we will be moving into the next section of our Revelation study. Feel free to come and join us for this great and challenging study at 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings.

Devotional:

This week ends our studies in leadership. I think that it will be evident in a moment as you read, because when we think of leaders of the Bible, there is none greater than Jesus Christ. There are nearly countless resources that give us the reasons why Jesus is the greatest leader of all time, but I want to put my two cents into the conversation. As we well know, there are many different kinds of leadership styles. Jesus, in his Earthly ministry, used all of them to create a new kind of leadership that relies completely upon both his manhood and his divinity. While we as fallen beings cannot do this ourselves, it is an important part of our Christian faith to attempt to be more like Jesus every single day.

Jesus ensured that we knew that he came first to be a servant to all, and in that servanthood he was a great leader. Mark 10:42-45 says “Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This set of verses is repeated in Matthew 20 as well, and it refers to when James and John asked to be placed on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus in glory. In essence, the two of them were asking to be the greatest of leaders amongst the apostles. But Jesus showed them that the way of true leadership was not to grasp at worldly power, but to be like a slave to those around you. They would have to be different, just like he said that almost everything would be when following him.

When we follow Christ in our leadership style, we truly can see why the servant leader must be the style utilized most often. It is not one that where you will be a doormat to everyone, but it is one where you can serve others easily. We know this is true because Jesus was never surprised at the way that people tried to offend him, or how they tried to manipulate him in his earthly ministry. Furthermore, it enabled Jesus to cast his vision in a way that allowed others to serve as well. One of the great hallmarks of being a servant leader is that it is very easy for others to want to serve alongside that kind of person. Think of a great boss you have had in the past. Now, were they the ones that had a viewpoint of being in an ivory tower, or were they the ones in the trench with you, fighting alongside you, and serving you as much as they led you? More often than not, they were the ones right beside you, encouraging you to do the work because they had done it before you and were willing to reach out the helping hand to pull you up. THAT is what a servant leader does best, and that is what Jesus Christ is still doing for us today.

When you look to Jesus, look this week at how he is helping you to learn to be a better leader by serving his people. That is the way that we truly lead others to him. Without doing that, we can never hope to provide THE hope of the world to others.

Memory Verses:

Luke 21:29-33

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourself and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.