When Jesus was headed to the cross, He told His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled. The solution for their anxiousness about the future was for them to believe in Him just like they had believed in the Father. Pray that our belief in the Person, words, and teachings of Jesus will rise to new heights and that we will walk with Him and not have anxious hearts.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”John 14:1
We continue to meet on-line only, and will be for the next several weeks.
It is looking like 11 July could be the earliest date we can meet in person.
In this confusing, wearying time, when we are not sure what day it is, we know that in the midst of all this, God is with us.
We remember that no matter what people say, no matter what people post on social media…
as followers of Jesus, we are called to be different and to live differently in this world;
as followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that are empowered by God’s Spirit and so be signs and a foretaste of what the Jesus life is like.
Whenever new regulations are passed and new laws come down, we are reminded by Paul in Galatians 5 that there are some things against which there is no law. As followers of Jesus, we exercise our freedom – our freedom to live out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Those are the things against which there is no law. This is what it looks like to live as one who is truly free.
As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…
get your coffee or tea, settle in, be still…
take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out… breathe,
invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.
“Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus” is a truth that greatly helps us to not lose heart during these difficult days (2 Corinthians 4:14). Pray that Christians everywhere will learn to keep our eyes focused on the resurrected Jesus.
Within the context of what has come to be known as the First Great Commandment, we are exhorted to love the Lord with all our heart . Let’s pray today that as God’s people, individually and as the church we will fall in love with Jesus again and that our love for Him will fill and consume our hearts.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”Mark 12:30-31
Jesus was often grieved at the hardness he saw in the hearts of the Pharisees. Pray that God will soften the hearts of those who have become hardened to His Word and to the authentic movements of His Spirit.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.Hosea 10:12
Since “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,” pray for parents to have wisdom in knowing how to discipline their children. Let’s pray, as well, that the children of this generation will have their hearts set free from the foolish things of the world.
Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.Proverbs 22:15
Meghan Sawatsky and the Students of Hope committee are hosting an online Art Auction on May 27 to 29 to raise money for the Lighthouse’s Building Hope project.
Students from Orillia and the surrounding area have donated art, baking, jewellery, etc.
The link below has all the information to see the items and to register.
You can encourage Orillia’s young artists and help raise funds for The Lighthouse.
To view items and to register to bid click on this link
God makes it clear in the Scriptures that everyone who is proud in heart is a disgrace to Him (Proverbs 16:5). Let’s pray that God will deliver His Church from pride, the great enemy of our heart’s devotion to God.
The Lord detests all the proud of heart.Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.Proverbs 16:5
Treasuring God’s Word in our hearts is a key element to finding victory over sin. Pray that Christians across our city will make a fresh commitment to read, meditate on, and memorize God’s Word, doing everything necessary to truly hide it in our hearts.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.Psalm 119:11