Sorry, this is super late. I’ve been… busy. Life’s been busy as of late, considering I just finished, what, 4 weeks of cold-calling? ~8000 dials down, and most likely ~8000 more dials to go.
As my Mom always says… It is well. All is well.
Message, October 18, 2026
Shared after Offering Exhortation:
For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD,
‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan.
Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as before, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all who oppress them.
Their nobles shall be from among them, And their governor shall come from their midst;
Then I will cause him to draw near, And he shall approach Me; For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the LORD. ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ”
Jeremiah 30:17-21
Compassion verse, October 17, 2026:
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.John 15:9-12
In a world that tells the youth to do your best so God would love you, we are telling the youth that God loves them, so they can do their best.
We tell them that God loves them, and the proof is Jesus Christ – His birth, death, resurrection and ascension are a demonstration of God’s perfect, everlasting love.
Because God loves them, they are able to love one another.
God encourages them, so they are able to encourage each other.
God supports them, so they are able to support each other.
Recap: Rooted Together – Being rooted together is not a human concept. It has been established in the Bible, primarily.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.1 Corinthians 12:26
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 1 Corinthians 12:21
A complement is something that completes or pairs well with another thing to make it better, while a supplement is an extra addition added to enhance or make up for a deficiency.
Not only are we connected together, we supplement each other. We complement each other.
Rooted, and Stable: Because we are together, we stand. And when one stands, all stand well.
…though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:12
Rooted, and Nourished: When one is provided for, all benefit.
Also, we are nourished together, from the Lord who is the Vine.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.John 15:5
We have the opportunity to nourish each other.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10
You want to obey Jesus? Love one another.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.John 15:12-14
You want to love one another? Think of one another, that we would encourage one another. Enjoy the fellowship, and thrive.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
(AMP) and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deedsHebrews 10:24
My lesson from How To Win Friends And Influence People:
Appreciate the subtle but deliberate power of humility (not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less and thinking more of the other person); demonstrate deliberate confidence in your own capabilities by showing genuine curiosity for the well-being of others.
Behold the Father, who humbles us, that we see we are all together in Christ.
In Christ we stand, and in Christ we are sustained.
We are rooted together in Christ.
We are Rooted, and we are not Tense. We are not Anxious.
When you force a creative project or work under extreme, toxic pressure, the final product often feels stiff, uninspired, or bitter.
If you approach a conversation with defensiveness or tension, the interaction is highly likely to result in a sour argument or misunderstanding.
A body that is constantly tense and stressed eventually “yields” physical symptoms, burnout, or fatigue.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.2 Timothy 1:7
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”Romans 8:15
We are Rooted, and we are Rested and Secure.
UB Science High morning devotion. We were singing Gary V songs.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30
As early as then, I’d be reminded that our posture as Christians, is to be at rest.
We are at rest, because we are secure.
We are secure, because God is for us.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
We are secure, because God is always with us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:31-39
We are Rooted, and we are Rested and Secure Together.
1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
Psalm 48:1-2
In closing: Declared, Psalm 23:1-2
Sheep only lie down when they are safe. The Good Shepherd keeps us so safe, that we naturally lie down in green pastures.
Sheep only drink from still (peaceful, not stagnant) water. They get agitated in running water. The Good Shepherd leads us to peaceful waters.
Benediction / End
God bless you!
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