Group Therapy

During our family prayer time on Sunday mornings, volunteers come forward to represent personal prayer concerns. An invitation is extended to all who feel led to join them and several people move forward to participate. Then as the prayer requests are made known to God, there is a group therapy interaction that takes place.

In Luke 18:1 we are told not to lose heart. Therefore, if you have any personal needs, and would like to talk with someone who can provide you with prayer support, call the church office and someone will see to it that your request is given to the church prayer chain. The prayer chain is another group therapy program available at Neighborhood Christian Fellowship church.

Ed Unruh

Two Gifts

Over two thousand years ago, God gave the world the first of two gifts. This gift was His Son Jesus Christ who was born to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7).

Later in His life, Christ was preaching and teaching and said He was the Son of God. The people refused to believe Him and demanded He be crucified (Mark 15:13-14). After the crucifixion, a centurion who witnessed His final breath said, "truly this was the Son of God".

When Christ Jesus rose from the dead His sacrifice was completed. This was God's second gift to the world. The gift of salvation, which is still available to us today. All anyone has to do, is believe, and the gift of salvation is theirs (Eph. 2:8).

Ed Unruh

Gifts

Gifts come in different sizes and different wrappings. They can come from relatives and friends and from God in Heaven.

Over two thousand years ago the God in heaven sent us a special gift. The gift He sent was for everyone and that gift was His only son Jesus.

May this gift be yours today and may the Holy Spirit be allowed to dwell in you this coming year (I John 2:20).

Ed Unruh

Judging Unknowingly

Quite often we will judge people unknowingly when we come in contact with them for the first time. We don't realize it - but it happens. In the Bible, we are told to judge not according to the appearance, but judge fairly and righteously (John 7:24).

In I Sam. 16:7 it says, "man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart". Because it is impossible for us to look at the heart, the alternative is for us to look at others in love.

And if we will look to other people in love, we will be able to look at them in a way that is pleasing to God, because, we can then look at others without judging them.

Ed Unruh

Happiness

One person was heard to say, "With all the problems I have, how can I possibly be happy?" For one thing, the economy frustrates me when I think about it and know there is nothing I can do about it.

What is it that makes some people concentrate on their problems, when they should be focusing on the cure. After all, the cure should not be all that difficult. Basically, there are only two things you have to do to overcome any existing problem.

To achieve happiness, the two simple rules are to be considerate of others and refrain from concentrating on yourself. Expect less from the other person and give more of yourself. It's as simple as that.

Ed Unruh