Immanuel United Church of Christ

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Table

3/30/2018

1 Comment

 
We have been looking at the simple yet deep and profound 23rd Psalm - the shepherd's psalm.  The Shepherd-King David reminds us that life is like a journey, where the path leads us along scenic vistas, sometimes winding over treacherous cliffs and then again along quiet waters.    He also reminds us that enemies do sometimes surround and assault us, but God will protect us and even prepare a table of His blessing before us in their presence.  God's provision is not thwarted by enemies and those who would undercut or seek to destroy us.  Instead we can have full confidence in God's bounteous provision.  Don't live in fear, live in faith.  God's plan and power will see you through.  When we have fought long and hard in the heat of the day, God's Holy Spirit will be the oil of healing.  And when we feel depleted God will pour a cup that overflows with love and mercy, and restores our soul.  God's presence is with us to guide and uplift us and fill us with hope and peace.   The images remind us to invite others to sit at table with us and to allow the oil of God’s Spirit to overflow and touch their lives.  Amid challenge and adversity, reach out to others.  Share grace!  Know that come what may the Shepherd of Love leads the way and will see you through.
 
(Verse of the week)
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.
 
(Prayer of the week)
Gracious Lord, Shepherd of Love, lead and guide me through the challenges and adversities of life.  Protect me from that which would destroy and guide me that I may always follow your way and grow each day.  Prepare a bounteous table that I may share with others when difficulties threaten.  Help me to trust your power to see me through.  Through your power, I am strong and well-able to overcome.  Open my heart to your love and make me a blessing to others every day, through your power and to your glory.  Amen.                                                       
 
Blessings in Christ--Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
    Words to live By-Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, ill-logical and self-centered;
  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
  Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
  Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
  Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
  Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
  Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
  Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
  Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
  It was never between you and them anyway!

1 Comment

Guiding

3/22/2018

0 Comments

 
As we continue reflection on Psalm 23 - the shepherd's psalm, the Shepherd-King David reminds us in this psalm that the Shepherd of Love has both a rod and a staff to comfort us.  The rod was used as a weapon to ward off predators such as mountain lions or enemies such as thieves.  The shepherd's staff had a curved end that was often used to pull a sheep back into the fold or pull it back from a dangerous cliff.  The shepherd never beat a sheep with his rod.  The rod was only used to ward off predators and enemies.  Only the staff, with the curved end, was used on sheep.  God does not punish or destroy us; God leads us and disciplines us to bring us back into the fold.  His presence is with us to guide and uplift us and fill us with hope and peace.   Know that the Shepherd of Love leads the way along the pathway of life and He will protect you and guide you along the journey of life and come what may He will see you through.
 
(Verse of the week)
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.
 
(Prayer of the week)
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Love, lead and guide me through the challenges and adversity of life.  Protect me from that which would destroy and guide me that I may always follow your way and grow each day.  Help me to trust your power to see me through.  Open my heart to your love and make me a blessing to others every day, through your power and to your glory.  Amen
                                                                   
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!-Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love—Sophocles
0 Comments

Valley of the Shadow

3/15/2018

0 Comments

 
We have been looking at the deep and profound psalm 23 - the shepherd's psalm.  The beautiful pastoral imagery reminds us that life is like a journey, where the path leads us along scenic vistas and winds over treacherous cliffs and then again along quiet waters.  Verse four reminds us that there are times in life when fear and uncertainty can threaten us and even death itself can overshadow the sky.  Yet the psalmist assures us that God is watching over us and we can have confidence that God will protect us and His presence will give us peace.  There are indeed times when we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, when it seems the shadows of death and destruction close around us, yet even there we may take hope that Christ has conquered all, even death itself.  His presence is with us to guide and uplift our hearts and fill us with hope and peace.   Know that the Shepherd of Love leads the way and, come what may, will see you through.
 
(Verse of the week)
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.
 
(Prayer of the week)
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of love, lead and guide me through the mountains and valleys of life.  Protect me and comfort me through the difficulties of life, and help me always to trust you.  Help me to open my life to your purpose and your plans.  Help me to trust your power to see me through.  Most of all open my heart to your love and make me a blessing to others, through your power and to your glory.  Amen.
 
Open your heart to the Shepherd of Love!-Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Giving is the highest level of living --John Maxwell

0 Comments

Journey

3/9/2018

0 Comments

 
 We are looking at the simple yet deep and profound psalm 23 - the shepherd's psalm.  Life is so much like a journey, where the path leads us along scenic vistas and winds over treacherous cliffs and then again along quiet waters.  There are times when we seem to know the way by heart and other times when it seems we are lost and alone.  The Psalmist reminds us that like a good shepherd, God is watching over us and leads us and guides along the pathway of life.  The Psalmist promises that God will lead us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  At times the path to the green pastures and quiet waters takes us through mountain passes and steep rocky terrain.  But we are never alone.  God has a purpose and plan for each of our lives, and God is watching over us and God will see us through.  If you are feeling a little overwhelmed at life's pathway, take heart, you are not lost or alone.  Look to our Shepherd of Love for strength and guidance.  Take a moment and allow God to restore your soul.  Know that the Shepherd of Love leads the way and will see you through.
 
(Verse of the week)
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.
 
 
(Prayer of the week)
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Love, lead and guide me through the mountains and valleys of life.  Help me to open my life to your purpose and your plans.  Help me to trust your power to see me through.  Most of all open my heart to your love and make me a blessing to others every day, through your power and to your glory.  Amen.
 
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!--Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it --Helen Keller

0 Comments

Psalm 23

3/1/2018

0 Comments

 
One of the most profound and comforting scriptures in all the Bible is the 23rd psalm.  God speaks to young David, the humble shepherd who is being prepared to be a king, in the quiet pastoral landscape with deep and profound truths.  A shepherd knows his sheep by name.  He also knows their individual personalities.  A good shepherd wants what is best for the sheep, but sheep don't always know what is best for them. 
Sheep are docile.  They like to be in flocks, yet often wander off even though they have little defense against natural predators such as coyotes, foxes or mountain lions.  Sheep need to be led by their caring and knowledgeable shepherd so that they can feed in fertile and safe pastures.  The Lord is our shepherd, and we are God's sheep.  The Lord knows each of us by name, and our shepherd of love cares for us and wants what is best for us.  Take comfort in the fact that God loves you and knows you by name.  Follow God and you will not be in want; you will find green pastures and quiet waters.  If you are facing adversity or those who would seek to harm you, know that you are under the watchful eye of a strong shepherd who will protect you.  Take a moment and rest in the green pastures next to the quiet waters and know that God loves you.
 
(Verse of the week)
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.
 
(Prayer of the week)
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Love, lead and guide me through the mountains and valleys of life.  Help me to open my life to your purpose and your plans.  Help me to trust your power to see me through.  Most of all open my heart to your love and make me a blessing to others, through your power and to your glory.  Amen.
 
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!-Pastor TJ
 
(Quote of the week)
We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power.  Then will our world know the blessings of peace –William Gladstone

0 Comments

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    Pastor Dr. TJ Jenney
    ​Awarded Top 30 Devotional Blog  
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1526 South 18th Street

Lafayette, IN 47905

Phone 765-474-6496


Worship Services;

Contemporary Service 8:30am 

Coffee & Conversation 9:30am 

Sunday School & Adult Ed 9:45 am

Traditional Worship ​10:45am 
 
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No matter who you are, or where you

are on life's journey, YOU are

welcome here!