Morning dawns

Morning dawns Morning dawns is the women’s ministry at FCOG, St. James. Connect. Grow. Love. Connect with one another, grow with one another, love one another as women of Christ.

Advent day 11Emmanuel, You come into our lives in surprising and humble ways. You don’t require fame or glory. You don’t...
12/11/2023

Advent day 11

Emmanuel,

You come into our lives in surprising and humble ways.

You don’t require fame or glory.

You don’t judge us by our size or wealth.

You don’t need us to be popular or busy.

Instead of needing something from us, you come to us.

Help us to see you in our lives.

Help us to see you in the humble eyes of others.

May we see you in the quiet spirit of neighbors.

Help us to know you as deeply as you know us.

Help us to find the quiet spaces in our lives to listen deeply

to the sound of your voice calling us your very own - a beloved child.

In the name of the one who came in a manager we pray.

Amen

Advent day 10God on High, Glory to you! As we wait for all the parts of life to happen in and through and around us, we ...
12/10/2023

Advent day 10

God on High,

Glory to you!

As we wait for all the parts of life to happen in and through and around us, we often wish our lives away.

We believe that peace will come…after…

We believe that we can’t find joy…during…

We believe that we are alone…in the midst…

But we aren’t alone. Joy doesn’t just come in the morning, because you are with us always.

Peace isn’t fleeting, because you are the bringer of peace and you remain with us.

Thank you for this gift.

Thank you for this promise.

Help us to feel it and see it and know it in our bones even when life is working to tell us a different truth.

You are the truth.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Amen

Advent day 9God of Joy, During the commercialism of this season, so many are trying to grab our attention to remind us w...
12/09/2023

Advent day 9

God of Joy,

During the commercialism of this season, so many are trying to grab our attention to remind us why our lives are lacking and how their product can make us happy.

But our lives are not lacking - because you are here.

We make our lists of people to buy for and we worry that we aren’t purchasing the best present.

We trade gift cards and show up to gatherings we don’t want to attend with anything in our hands that will suffice.

But God - this doesn’t buy happiness.

This doesn’t buy relationship.

True joy comes from you - from knowing that we are beloved regardless of what the world tells us.

True joy isn’t fleeting or instant - it builds over time as we live more deeply into our relationship with the One who claims us and names us “Child of God.”

Thank you for this season of giving, but Lord, may we recognize that you are the first giver - the true giver - the giver of light, and life, and hope, and joy.

For this we give thanks. May the joy we have from you shine brightly in each of us during this season.

Amen

Advent day 8God of Grace, Break into our lives. Warm our hearts and mend our minds. Show yourself to us in the places th...
12/08/2023

Advent day 8

God of Grace,

Break into our lives.

Warm our hearts and mend our minds.

Show yourself to us in the places that evoke fear and shame, transforming us into messengers of your peace.

Teach us to reflect your grace into the world.

Make us reflections of your peace so that we might bring comfort and healing into the lives of our neighbors.

Help us overcome messages of exclusion by being instruments of your work for justice.

We ask all this in the name of your Son.

Amen

Advent day 7God of Beginnings, We often want to hit a reset button on our lives. We use dates and events like birthdays,...
12/07/2023

Advent day 7

God of Beginnings,

We often want to hit a reset button on our lives.

We use dates and events like birthdays, holidays, new years, moving, and the start of a new job to declare a reset button.

We will do better.

We will eat better.

We will not spend time with people who hurt us.

We will start something new.

We will pray more.

We will be kinder.

We will…

It is as if we wish to erase our past mistakes.

It is as if we want to be more than we are while forgetting what got us to today.

But God - you are a God of new life. A God of new beginnings.

A true beginning is in you and not because we hit a reset button.

Our true beginning is wrapped up in your beginning - you were in the beginning. All things that came into being came through you, and Lord - THAT MEANS US!

If we came into being in you and through you, If you brought us in, then we are good. We are enough.

We don’t need to reset our life. We need only lean more deeply into you - our Creator and Redeemer.

Thank you, Lord, for holding us tightly in all things in life - the things we are proud of and the things we are not.

May we walk this day reminded of the new beginning you give us each day.

Amen

Sometimes life makes us feel like we’ve been uncontrollably thrown into the middle of the fire. We were fired from our j...
12/06/2023

Sometimes life makes us feel like we’ve been uncontrollably thrown into the middle of the fire.

We were fired from our job.
We experienced heartache.
We grieve loss.
We have a new diagnosis.
We don’t know what our purpose is and struggle to press on.

When we feel like life is on fire we may feel completely out of control. Maybe we have reached the deepest depths of pain, and now everything appears to be engulfed in flames.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego can relate as they literally were thrown into flames themselves. They were thrown in as a result of King Nebuchadnezzar’s anger toward their faithfulness to God.

“ …He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:19-20

As believers, we sometimes fall into the trap of the false belief that if God is for me then nothing bad can or should happen to me. But this invites us to question God’s sovereignty.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Scripture states that we will endure hardship to no surprise. Even God’s most faithful servants and disciples faced certain depths of adversity that we may never experience in our lifetime. But one thing remains the same - it’s the call to cling to Jesus’ faithfulness amid the flames.

Friend, let us fight to shift our gaze above our flames. Though it may not make our circumstances change, by seeking Him, an unexplainable peace is promised to be given.

Advent day 6God of the branches, You grow deeply in our lives. Take root in our hearts so we might see those in need dur...
12/06/2023

Advent day 6

God of the branches,

You grow deeply in our lives.

Take root in our hearts so we might see those in need during this season of light and respond with the love of Christ.

Take root in our hearts so we might seek justice for your poor.

Take root.

Grow deeply.

Change us for good.

Help us bear fruit that strengthens your kingdom and brings justice and peace to all the world.

Amen

Immanuel, We often pray for signs to show us what choices we should make in life. We can feel lost or abandoned when we ...
12/05/2023

Immanuel,

We often pray for signs to show us what choices we should make in life.

We can feel lost or abandoned when we perceive that you are silent, or when our choices don’t work out.

Signs can be read differently by different people. We project our own desires and world views into the journey. We often want or hope for something so badly we see it when it isn’t there.

God - your great signs of love are consistent and unending.

You came down - Immanuel - God with us.

You walked among your people.

You welcome us as your own in the waters of our baptism.

You nourish us at your table.

The difficulties of life are not signs that you have left us or that we are bad.

Instead of these feelings of abandonment or rejection Lord, may we feel your presence with us when life is difficult.

Instead of seeking signs, may we recognize that YOU, in your complete fullness of love, are already present with us.

May we hear you in the words of scripture and experience you in the warmness of community.

Thank you, Lord, for your ongoing presence and love in our lives.

Thank you for being Immanuel - God with us.

Amen

You can’t pursue your purpose if you’re busy comparing your life to someone else.God didn’t create you to be like her - ...
12/04/2023

You can’t pursue your purpose if you’re busy comparing your life to someone else.

God didn’t create you to be like her - He wants you to be the best version of YOU.

Stop thinking you’re on the wrong path just because it looks different from someone else.

Stop believing more for her means less for you.

Stop wishing you had someone else’s life and start chasing the dreams God placed on your heart.

You can’t experience contentment and joy when you’re caught up in comparison.

You were created for a unique purpose, and it has nothing to do with keeping up with the woman next to you.

Address

615 W James Boulevard
Saint James, MO
65559

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Morning dawns posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Morning dawns:

Shortcuts

Share