Each week, we offer daily Scripture readings and thoughts in our Grow • Pray • Study (GPS) Guide. 

Come back on Mondays for the weekly GPS, and spend time in study and prayer daily! 

You matter to God. 

St. Paul’s UMC GPS:
GROW † PRAY † STUDY

for the week

June 1-6, 2020

Burning Power of the Holy Spirit

Destination:  To gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a deeply committed follower of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  To be able to recognize your experiences of God and to discover God in new and different ways.

Memory verse:  I encourage you to read this Scripture every day and by the end of the week have it memorized or to the point of where you can paraphrase the verse(s).  Try writing it down on post-it notes and place them in areas where you will see it daily, for example the bathroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.

³ They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. 

Acts 2:3-4 CEB

Daily Prayer:

Lord of patience and persistence, we live in a broken and shattered world. All around us we see great evidence of hatred and alienation. We cannot help but observe the alienation of your people from each other. We create devices to separate rather than unite; to divide rather than come together in hope. Forgive us for our sins. These sins cause such division and hurt. Remind us today that the disciples, too, lived in a fearful world and that one day you came to them, as they sat huddled in fear, and you empowered them. You gave them hearts of courage and faith. Please bring to us the same hearts that we may serve you well, bringing peace and hope to our world. In the name of Christ, we offer this prayer. In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer and the Holy Spirit our Counselor. Amen

For this week we are going to concentrate on Acts chapter 2 verses 3 and 4. Read them each day, read them silently and aloud.

Monday, June 1, 2020. 

When you hear people speak other languages, what happens inside of you? Are you intrigued by another culture? Are you angry that aren’t speaking English? What happens inside of you? Ask God to increase your capacity to love all cultures, languages and races.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020. 

Take a virtual tour of Minidoka National Historic site today. Read about the American and Idaho history of interring Japanese Americans. Pray for God to enlarge your heart, mind and soul for people who are different from you. https://www.nps.gov/miin/learn/historyculture/index.htm

Wednesday, June 3, 2020. 

Take a virtual tour of the Idaho Black History Museum site today. Go to the menu section and read a couple of articles. Pray for God to enlarge your heart, mind and soul for people who are different from you. https://www.ibhm.org/

Thursday, June 4, 2020. 

Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Native American History Museum. Go to the menu section and read a couple of articles. Pray for God to enlarge your heart, mind and soul for people who are different from you. https://americanindian.si.edu/

Friday, June 5, 2020. 

Take a virtual tour of the Holocaust Museum. Go to the menu section and read a couple of articles. Pray for God to enlarge your heart, mind and soul for people who are different from you. https://www.ushmm.org/

Saturday, June 6, 2020. 

Which was the hardest museum for you to “visit” this week? Why was it hard? Revisit that museum and see what you experience today. Pray for God to continue to enlarge your heart, mind and soul for people who are different from you.

Resources: Bible by God; UMC Lectionary resources, Ministry Matters