- 38 Johnsons Mill Road
- Orrington
- ME
- 04474
(207) 825-3404
Email Us
DEVOTION:Luke 9:51
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."
THOUGHTS:
There is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus that begins with a firm, focused statement: “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” With His eyes set on the cross, Jesus begins a journey not just of miles, but of mission—one of sacrifice, surrender, and ultimate obedience. This passage is not for the faint of heart. It’s not about convenience or comfort. It’s about following Jesus with everything. As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem, people along the way express interest in following Him. Yet each one brings a condition, a hesitation, a “but first.” These are not necessarily bad things—burying a father, saying goodbye to family—but Jesus doesn’t soften His response. Why? Because the call to discipleship is not about fitting Jesus into our lives—it’s about surrendering our lives to His.
If we are honest with ourselves, we live in a world of half-hearted commitments. It is so easy to be distracted, to treat faith as something we do when we’re not too busy or when everything else is in place. But Jesus calls us to more than that. His journey to the cross was intentional. His invitation to follow Him is radical. When Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God,” He’s speaking to every believer who is tempted to follow Him on their own terms. He reminds us that following Him means letting go of what was and embracing what lies ahead fully.
This doesn’t mean we neglect responsibilities or stop loving those around us—it means we place Jesus at the center. When we do that, everything else—family, work, grief, politics, and joy—finds its proper place. As 2026 begins, I pray we all take an honest look at our relationship with Christ and ask, "Am I all in?" and how can I walk closer to the One I call Lord?
PRAYER:Almighty and Holy God. In the stillness of this early Sunday morning, before the day begins to move and voices begin to rise, we come before You together. We thank You for the gift of this new day, for breath in our lungs, and for the quiet reminder that Your mercy is new each morning. Lord, we lift up our church family to You. You know every story, every burden, every silent prayer that has been carried into this morning. For those who will gather with joy, we give thanks. For those who come weary, uncertain, or simply trying to hold things together, draw near to us. Make our time together a place of grace, truth, and renewal.
We pray especially for those who are hurting. For those walking through grief, for those learning how to face days without a loved one, for those whose hearts feel heavy in ways words cannot describe, hold them in Your compassion. Be their strength when they feel weak, their comfort when sorrow feels overwhelming, and their hope when the road ahead seems unclear.
Lord, we also lift up those who are ill, recovering, or facing long and uncertain journeys. You are our healer and our sustainer. Bring healing where bodies are weak, peace where fear has taken root, and endurance where the days feel long. Surround them with Your presence and with people who reflect Your care. We pray for those who feel lost, those who have drifted, those who are struggling with doubt, those who are searching for meaning in all the wrong places. And we pray for those who are seeking, asking questions, longing for something more, quietly reaching for You. Meet them where they are. Draw them gently toward the life that is found in Christ.
Lord, shape us as Your church. Teach us to be a people of compassion, humility, and love. Guard our words so that they build rather than divide. Form our hearts so that we reflect the mercy we have received. And may our lives, together, point not to ourselves, but to Jesus. Father, I pray for our Men’s Group, to those near and those far away. Keep us connected through discipleship and love. As this day unfolds, we place it in Your hands. Lead us by Your Spirit. Keep our hearts attentive to Your voice. And let all that we do bring honor to Your holy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our hope, Amen.
DEVOTION:
Luke 9:51
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."
THOUGHTS:
There is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus that begins with a firm, focused statement: “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” With His eyes set on the cross, Jesus begins a journey not just of miles, but of mission—one of sacrifice, surrender, and ultimate obedience. This passage is not for the faint of heart. It’s not about convenience or comfort. It’s about following Jesus with everything. As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem, people along the way express interest in following Him. Yet each one brings a condition, a hesitation, a “but first.” These are not necessarily bad things—burying a father, saying goodbye to family—but Jesus doesn’t soften His response. Why? Because the call to discipleship is not about fitting Jesus into our lives—it’s about surrendering our lives to His.
If we are honest with ourselves, we live in a world of half-hearted commitments. It is so easy to be distracted, to treat faith as something we do when we’re not too busy or when everything else is in place. But Jesus calls us to more than that. His journey to the cross was intentional. His invitation to follow Him is radical. When Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God,” He’s speaking to every believer who is tempted to follow Him on their own terms. He reminds us that following Him means letting go of what was and embracing what lies ahead fully.
This doesn’t mean we neglect responsibilities or stop loving those around us—it means we place Jesus at the center. When we do that, everything else—family, work, grief, politics, and joy—finds its proper place. As 2026 begins, I pray we all take an honest look at our relationship with Christ and ask, "Am I all in?" and how can I walk closer to the One I call Lord?
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."
THOUGHTS:
There is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus that begins with a firm, focused statement: “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” With His eyes set on the cross, Jesus begins a journey not just of miles, but of mission—one of sacrifice, surrender, and ultimate obedience. This passage is not for the faint of heart. It’s not about convenience or comfort. It’s about following Jesus with everything. As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem, people along the way express interest in following Him. Yet each one brings a condition, a hesitation, a “but first.” These are not necessarily bad things—burying a father, saying goodbye to family—but Jesus doesn’t soften His response. Why? Because the call to discipleship is not about fitting Jesus into our lives—it’s about surrendering our lives to His.
If we are honest with ourselves, we live in a world of half-hearted commitments. It is so easy to be distracted, to treat faith as something we do when we’re not too busy or when everything else is in place. But Jesus calls us to more than that. His journey to the cross was intentional. His invitation to follow Him is radical. When Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God,” He’s speaking to every believer who is tempted to follow Him on their own terms. He reminds us that following Him means letting go of what was and embracing what lies ahead fully.
This doesn’t mean we neglect responsibilities or stop loving those around us—it means we place Jesus at the center. When we do that, everything else—family, work, grief, politics, and joy—finds its proper place. As 2026 begins, I pray we all take an honest look at our relationship with Christ and ask, "Am I all in?" and how can I walk closer to the One I call Lord?
PRAYER:
Almighty and Holy God. In the stillness of this early Sunday morning, before the day begins to move and voices begin to rise, we come before You together. We thank You for the gift of this new day, for breath in our lungs, and for the quiet reminder that Your mercy is new each morning. Lord, we lift up our church family to You. You know every story, every burden, every silent prayer that has been carried into this morning. For those who will gather with joy, we give thanks. For those who come weary, uncertain, or simply trying to hold things together, draw near to us. Make our time together a place of grace, truth, and renewal.We pray especially for those who are hurting. For those walking through grief, for those learning how to face days without a loved one, for those whose hearts feel heavy in ways words cannot describe, hold them in Your compassion. Be their strength when they feel weak, their comfort when sorrow feels overwhelming, and their hope when the road ahead seems unclear.
Lord, we also lift up those who are ill, recovering, or facing long and uncertain journeys. You are our healer and our sustainer. Bring healing where bodies are weak, peace where fear has taken root, and endurance where the days feel long. Surround them with Your presence and with people who reflect Your care. We pray for those who feel lost, those who have drifted, those who are struggling with doubt, those who are searching for meaning in all the wrong places. And we pray for those who are seeking, asking questions, longing for something more, quietly reaching for You. Meet them where they are. Draw them gently toward the life that is found in Christ.
Lord, shape us as Your church. Teach us to be a people of compassion, humility, and love. Guard our words so that they build rather than divide. Form our hearts so that we reflect the mercy we have received. And may our lives, together, point not to ourselves, but to Jesus. Father, I pray for our Men’s Group, to those near and those far away. Keep us connected through discipleship and love. As this day unfolds, we place it in Your hands. Lead us by Your Spirit. Keep our hearts attentive to Your voice. And let all that we do bring honor to Your holy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our hope, Amen.