Grief Support/in , /by

Coronavirus Response/in , , /by

The spread of the coronavirus has caused a level of fear and anxiety in many people.  We know that God is in control and that He has not given us the spirit of fear. Yet, we do not take this situation lightly and understand the importance of operating with wisdom.  We are closely monitoring the news of the coronavirus and paying attention to guidance published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there have only been a handful of presumptively confirmed cases in Nevada, we are taking precautionary measures to ensure a safe place to gather and worship at MFM.  Until the virus is contained, MFM will implement the additional safety measures while our weekly services continue.

ILLNESS:
If you are ill, please enjoy the service online.  This will ensure that you recover more quickly and do not pass on an illness to others.  You can go to mfmnv.org for information on streaming.

COMMON AREAS:

Doors and surfaces in common areas and the bathrooms will be wiped down more frequently.  Additionally, more hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in the common areas.

GREETINGS & PRAYER:

To minimize contact with other congregants, MFM volunteers will replace the customary handshake or hug, with a friendly verbal greeting.

During greeting time in services, you should greet one another with smiles and waves instead of handshakes.

During prayer, we will not link hands but may, instead, place our hands on each other’s shoulders or elbows.

OFFERING:
We recommend that you give online at mfmnv.org or by using MFM’s mobile app or text-to-give to reduce the potential spread of viruses through handling money; however, we are still accepting checks and cash.

KIDS & YOUTH AREAS:

We will wipe down all surfaces and toys with an appropriate disinfectant more frequently.

As always, we ask that you do not bring your children to services or Kingdom Kids if they are sick.

 

PREVENTION:
We strongly encourage you to become educated on the coronavirus by visiting the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website or the Southern Nevada Health District’s website.  (A notice from the CDC is attached for your convenience.)

Here are some basic preventative measures:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and immediately wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Let’s pray for those negatively affected by the virus and work together to prevent its spread.

Sincerely,

 

Pastor Clinton House

A Goal and a Purpose/in /by

My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. Acts 20:24

In 2018, endurance athlete Colin O’Brady took a walk that had never been taken before. Pulling a supply sled behind him, O’Brady trekked across Antarctica entirely alone—a total of 932 miles in 54 days. It was a momentous journey of dedication and courage.

Commenting on his time alone with the ice, the cold, and the daunting distance, O’Brady said, “I was locked in a deep flow state [fully immersed in the endeavor] the entire time, equally focused on the end goal, while allowing my mind to recount the profound lessons of this journey.”

For those of us who have put our faith in Jesus, that statement might strike a familiar chord. It sounds a lot like our calling as believers: focused on the goal of walking through life in a way that glorifies (honors) God and reveals Him to others. In Acts 20:24, Paul, no stranger to dangerous journeys, said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

As we walk on in our relationship with Jesus, may we recognize what we know about the purpose for our journey and press on to the day we’ll see our Savior face to face.

By:  Dave Branon

Reflect & Pray
How does your relationship with Jesus affect your walk in life? What can you do today to reveal to others your love for Him?

Dear heavenly Father, as we walk through life, help us to honor You in all we do. And may we encourage others to journey with You.

resource: Our Daily Bread www.odb.org

Full Attention/in /by

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.

Technology today seems to demand our constant attention. The modern “miracle” of the internet gives us the amazing capacity to access humanity’s collective learning in the palm of our hand. But for many, such constant access can come at a cost.

Writer Linda Stone has coined the phrase “continual partial attention” to describe the modern impulse to always need to know what’s happening “out there,” to make sure we’re not missing anything. If that sounds like it could produce chronic anxiety, you’re right!

Although the apostle Paul struggled with different reasons for anxiety, he knew our souls are wired to find peace in God. Which is why, in a letter to new believers who’d endured persecution (1 Thessalonians 2:14), Paul concluded by urging the believers to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” (5:16–18).

Praying “continually” might seem pretty daunting. But then, how often do we check our phones? What if we instead let that urge be a prompt to talk to God?

More important, what if we learned to exchange a need to always be in “the know” for continual, prayerful rest in God’s presence? Through relying on Christ’s Spirit, we can learn to give our heavenly Father our continual full attention as we make our way through each day.

By: Adam R. Holz

Reflect & Pray

How would you say technology impacts your faith, both negatively and positively? What might help you grow in undivided focus on God?

Father, thank You for inviting us into a relationship with You, one in which You long to hear from us continually.

PROMPTED TO PRAY/in /by

I constantly remember you in my prayers. 2 Timothy 1:3 

Several years ago I was prompted to pray for you often, and I wonder why.”

That text message from an old friend came with a photo of a note she’d kept in her Bible: “Pray for James. Cover mind, thoughts, words.” Beside my name she’d recorded three separate years.

I looked at the years and caught my breath. I wrote back and asked what month she began to pray. She responded, “Sometime around July.”

That was the month I was preparing to leave home for extended study abroad. I would be facing an unfamiliar culture and language and have my faith challenged like never before. As I looked at the note, I realized I’d received the precious gift of generous prayer.

My friend’s kindness reminded me of another “prompting” to pray, Paul’s instruction to his young missionary friend Timothy: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1). The phrase “first of all” indicates highest priority. Our prayers matter, Paul explains, because God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” about Jesus (v. 4).

God moves through faithful prayer in countless ways to encourage others and draw them near to Himself. We may not know someone’s circumstances when they come to mind, but God does. And He’ll help that person as we pray!

By: James Banks

Reflect & Pray

Who comes to mind that needs your prayers in this new year? How can you remind yourself to pray for them often?

Loving God, please help me to pray often and to make a lasting difference in others’ lives through my intercession for them.

To learn more about prayer, visit https://bit.ly/2kTeSVt.

Today’s Scripture & Insight:

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord Luke 2:11/in , /by

Remember Tickle Me Elmo? Cabbage Patch Kids? The Furby? What do they have in common? Each rank among the twenty most popular Christmas gifts of all time. Also included on the list are familiar favorites such as Monopoly, the Nintendo Game Boy, and Wii.

We all delight in giving gifts at Christmas, but that’s nothing compared to God’s delight in giving the first Christmas gift. This gift came in the form of a baby, born in a Bethlehem manger (Luke 2:7).

Despite His humble birth, the Child’s arrival was proclaimed by an angel who declared, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (vv. 10–11). Following this magnificent news, a “heavenly host” appeared, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (vv. 13–14).

This Christmas, enjoy giving gifts to your loved ones, but never lose sight of the reason for the giving—the spectacular favor of God on His creation crystallized in the gift of His own Son to save us from our sin. We give because He gave. May we worship Him in gratitude!

By: Remi Oyedele

Today’s Scripture & Insight:  Luke 2:4–14

A Sincere Thank You/in /by

In preparation for Xavier’s first job interview, my husband, Alan, handed our son a pack of thank-you cards for him to send out after he met with prospective employers. He then pretended to be a hiring interviewer, using his decades of experience as a manager to ask Xavier questions. After the role-playing, our son tucked several copies of his resume into a folder. He smiled when Alan reminded him about the cards. “I know,” he said. “A sincere thank-you note will set me apart from all the other applicants.

When the manager called to hire Xavier, he expressed gratitude for the first hand-written thank-you card he’d received in years.

Saying thanks makes a lasting impact. The psalmists’ heartfelt prayers and grateful worship were preserved in books of Psalms. Though there are one hundred and fifty psalms, these two verses reflect a message of thankfulness: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2)

We will never be able to finish expressing our gratitude for all God’s wonderful deeds. But we can start with a sincere thank you through our prayers. We can nurture a lifestyle of grateful worship, praising God and acknowledging all He’s done and all He promises He’ll do.

By: Xochitl Dixon

Reflect & Pray

What would you like to thank God for on this day He’s made? How can writing down prayers of thanks help us cultivate a spirit of gratitude in all circumstances?

Generous and loving God, please help us acknowledge the countless and wonderful ways You work.

God’s Promise/in , /by

For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9

Lord, may we never take for granted all the things that come to us so easily each day. And may we be reminded that you are the giver of every good and perfect gift.