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Devotion: "Love that Crosses the Street"

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Love That Crosses the Street Scripture: John 13:34 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus didn’t just teach love—he lived it. He washed feet. He healed outsiders. He forgave enemies. He crossed lines and broke barriers. And then he said: Now it’s your turn. Not “love as you feel like it.” Not “love those who love you back.” But love like he did—sacrificially, visibly, with no fine print. That kind of love means we don’t wait for people to cross the street to us. We cross first. What would it look like to cross the street today—toward the lonely, the angry, the hurting? This isn’t easy. But it is unmistakably Christlike. 3 Ways to Live It Out Today: Identify one person who might feel overlooked. Reach out with a word of encouragement or an unexpected act of kindness. Commit to a 7-day “cross the line” challenge: each day, do one thing that stretches your comfort zone to show Christ’s love. Write a thank-you note ...
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Devotion: "A Seat at the Table"

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A Seat at the Table Scripture: Luke 14:13–14 – “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… and you will be blessed.” One of the most radical things Jesus ever did wasn’t a miracle or a sermon—it was a meal. He kept sitting down with the wrong people. People the religious elite wouldn’t be caught dead eating with. In Jesus’ day, who you ate with said everything. It defined your social circle, your status, even your holiness. But Jesus didn’t use the table to protect status—he used it to extend grace. So maybe the real miracle isn’t multiplying bread. Maybe it’s making room at your table. Who’s missing from your table—literal or metaphorical? Who needs to hear, “I saved you a seat”? 3 Ways to Live It Out Today: Invite someone different from you—older, younger, from another background—for a meal, coffee, or a walk-and-talk. At church, sit beside someone new. Don’t just greet them—stay beside them. Pay for someone’s lunch anonymously this week...
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Location: Monroe, OH, USA
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Devotion: "Erasing the Lines"

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Erasing the Lines Scripture: Acts 11:17 – “If God gave them the same gift he gave us… who was I to think I could stand in God’s way?” Peter had always seen Gentiles as outsiders. Unclean. Unfit for full inclusion in God’s people. Until God disrupted that view. Peter witnessed the Holy Spirit fall on people he’d been taught to avoid. Suddenly, his lines didn’t make sense anymore. He had a choice: defend the boundary or follow the Spirit. We all have lines. Lines we draw between “us” and “them.” It might be someone whose political views offend you. Someone with a messy past. Someone who doesn’t look, live, or believe like you. But the Spirit is still challenging our boundaries. Still asking, “Who are you to stand in God’s way?” Maybe it’s time to set the chalk down. 3 Ways to Live It Out Today: Reach out to someone you've quietly kept at arm’s length—text, call, or start a conversation. Spend 10 minutes in prayer, asking God to reveal any lines you've drawn—and the courage...
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Location: Monroe, OH, USA
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"Love beyond Limits" - Message for 5/18/2025

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Love Beyond Limits John 13:31-35; Acts 11:1-18 Series: Rise Up: How to Start Living Again There’s a fable about a man who spent his whole life drawing lines. Each time someone disagreed with him, challenged him, or simply made him uncomfortable, he drew another line to put them on the outside. Over time, his circle got smaller and smaller. By the end of his life, he stood in the center of a tiny, lonely circle. But then he looked up and saw Jesus. Only Jesus wasn’t drawing lines—he was erasing them. That story isn’t in the Bible, but it might as well be. Because Jesus spent his life doing just that: erasing lines, widening circles, and welcoming the people others left out. I’ll be honest: I’ve drawn lines before. Maybe you have too. Sometimes without even realizing it. And today, Jesus invites us to see those lines—and let him erase them. Let me ask you: Have you ever been on the outside of someone’s line? Maybe you weren’t invited. Or you felt judged. Maybe a church told you in a ...
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Location: Monroe, OH, USA
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God Still Has Work for You

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You are still here because God is still working through you. That’s what Tabitha’s resurrection tells us. Her acts of love—sewing, helping, caring—were seen. And they mattered. So do yours. You don’t have to preach a sermon to change a life. Sometimes a quiet act of service is the very heartbeat of God at work in the world. So if you’ve been wondering whether your life still counts, hear this: You are needed. You are called. You are loved. 🙌 Let your next “yes” be a small step of love today.
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Location: Monroe, OH, USA
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Faith Isn't Just for the Strong

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What if your weakest moment was the doorway to something greater? Tabitha’s story reminds us that faith is not about being perfect—it’s about trusting the One who can raise the broken and renew what feels lost. When Peter arrived and knelt to pray, he didn’t have a magic formula. He trusted the risen Jesus—and that trust changed everything. (Acts 9:36-43) You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be unshakable. You just have to bring your need to Jesus. 💬 Reflect: What do I need to lay before God today? 
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Location: Monroe, OH, USA
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You're Not Alone in the Struggle

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Have you ever whispered, “Is this how my story ends?” Maybe life knocked you flat. Maybe you feel like you’ve run out of second chances. If that’s where you are, know this: you are not alone—and it’s not too late to get back up. In the book of Acts, a woman named Tabitha poured out love for others until the day she died. But that wasn’t the end of her story. Through God’s power, she was raised up again—not just to life, but to purpose . (Acts 9:36-43 You may feel down today. But there’s hope. God hasn’t given up on you. 🕊️ Let this be your next step: Pray, “Jesus, help me rise today. Show me what you still want to do through me.” 
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