1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
James 1.19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”
Healthy communication is not as easy as it sounds for most of us. We may feel like we are clearly stating our needs, but the other person isn’t understanding. Or we may feel our words are helpful but the recipient is feeling judged. Some of us may resort to a text or an email instead of talking because of past failed interactions. But guess what? Those forms of communication have drawbacks too! Failed attempts and hurt feelings, misunderstandings… they happen, and will continue to happen.
What do we do with the feelings of judgement or offense? What do we do with our frustration of someone continually not “hearing” what we are trying to say?
I definitely do not have the answers. But what I am hearing from the Lord again and again the past few months is His desire for unity and reconciliation. Poor communication is just one way the enemy gets between us. Divides us. Brings up past hurts, or creates new hurts. We have to pray – talk to God and share our hearts, our pain, our frustration. Ask for His help. His holy intervention. Ask for him to speak clearly through us and to clean out our ears (minds and hearts, too!) so that we can understand each other.
I feel in my experiences with miscommunications, both parties really do want good for the other. That intensions are pure and kind. I just need to be reminded to take a deep breath, try again, ask for forgiveness if I’m aware I’ve hurt the person’s feelings, and to allow the Spirit to work.
In this day and age of turmoil, heightened anxiety, and tense emotions, let’s give one another an extra dose of grace. Let’s extend forgiveness. Let’s be willing to listen.
Ericka
Healthy communication is not as easy as it sounds for most of us. We may feel like we are clearly stating our needs, but the other person isn’t understanding. Or we may feel our words are helpful but the recipient is feeling judged. Some of us may resort to a text or an email instead of talking because of past failed interactions. But guess what? Those forms of communication have drawbacks too! Failed attempts and hurt feelings, misunderstandings… they happen, and will continue to happen.
What do we do with the feelings of judgement or offense? What do we do with our frustration of someone continually not “hearing” what we are trying to say?
I definitely do not have the answers. But what I am hearing from the Lord again and again the past few months is His desire for unity and reconciliation. Poor communication is just one way the enemy gets between us. Divides us. Brings up past hurts, or creates new hurts. We have to pray – talk to God and share our hearts, our pain, our frustration. Ask for His help. His holy intervention. Ask for him to speak clearly through us and to clean out our ears (minds and hearts, too!) so that we can understand each other.
I feel in my experiences with miscommunications, both parties really do want good for the other. That intensions are pure and kind. I just need to be reminded to take a deep breath, try again, ask for forgiveness if I’m aware I’ve hurt the person’s feelings, and to allow the Spirit to work.
In this day and age of turmoil, heightened anxiety, and tense emotions, let’s give one another an extra dose of grace. Let’s extend forgiveness. Let’s be willing to listen.
Ericka
from the week of March 16, 2026
Praises
- I praise you Lord and Thank You for helping me navigate another quarter at CWU and end on the Dean’s List.
- Praise for Pastor Gregory’s teaching, calling us to be ambassadors for Christ.
- Thankful to be back in church again this morning. Praise the Lord for successful surgery and prayers for successful rehab.
- Thank you for this church family guiding me.
- Praise the Lord! My brother-in-law is home from the Care Facility. His leg is healing after his amputation.
- With no living close family members, this church’s people have become my “chosen” family. It is a tremendous addition and support system to me. I am blessed even when life is rough. No complaints! Thank you, Jesus.
- You are the Christ the Son of the living God and I worship you only.
- Thanks to God for safe travels over the pass last week.
- Thank you, Lord for a healthy life inside me to fulfill his glory alone.
- Praising God in all circumstances.
- Thank you, Lord, for healing and recovery after heart surgery. Thank you church for all the prayers. I have been blessed to have such a great church family.
- Thank you, God, for all Missionaries and church family.
- Thankful for today, Lord! Thank You Jesus for healing and providing for L in her time of recovery.
- Thanking Jesus for walking with us during R’s health crisis.
- Continued thanks for deliverance from a difficult situation.
- So thankful for God’s healing hands on my father who regained most of his functions after his spinal surgery after his 1/1 accident. So thankful both my parents are here with good health and enjoying retirement. Prayers that they know and walk with You.
- Thankful for our missionaries!
- God is teaching us patience and growing our faith.
- What a joy to be with our church family in worship on Sunday. Thank you, Pastor Gregory, music folks, and all the others who lead in worship. Thank you for your prayerful planning and preparation.
Prayers
- Considering the uncertainty and instability across the world, we pray for your protection to prevail. We pray that death and destruction would end. We pray for those who seek to escalate violence, that your Holy Spirit would move them to de-escalate. We pray that they would be inspired to seek peace and adopt a posture of love. Lord, have mercy.
- Continued and full healing, in the name of Christ Jesus, for L’s lung and breathing issues.
- Please pray for my son E. He has developed a heightened amount of anxiety in school and in any extracurricular activities. It’s affecting him to be able to enjoy both of these things. Prayers that the Dr. at Children’s Village can get us in earlier so we can find the best possible solution to help him navigate.
- Healing for G, understanding for family, and discernment for his medical team.
- Comfort for a woman who is grieving the loss of three family members and a pet over a three-year period. Lord, show her Your love!
- Please continued prayers for my stepdaughter’s mother who is surrendering herself to Jesus and focusing on sobriety at Sundown.
- B’s sister D is recovering from intensive surgery and is now on a ventilator, heavily sedated. We pray for her comfort, and for her healing, in Jesus’ name. Prayers for the family who isn’t ready to lose another family member. Lord, bring Your peace, please!
- Prayers that people can settle their differences without resorting to violence and for the protection of others.
- Prayers for T’s well-being.
- Pray for David and Noni Graves as they serve the people of Papua, Indonesia; we are grateful every time we get to connect with them and learn more about the work You have called and equipped them to do on the other side of the world.
- Pray for Pastor Gregory and his family. Pray for the city, state and country. Pray for wisdom for our leaders. Pray for those living in the shadows for their peace and safety in uncertain times. Pray for the Graves family for supply.
- Prayers for strength and wisdom as J works to walk again.
- Lord, please help L find her way in some sort of ministry for our Lord.
- Prayers for my sister, brother and sister-in-law. Prayers for K who lost her mom last Saturday.
- Please pray for everyone directly dealing with the conflict in Iran; give Pres Trump the guidance needed to minimize casualties on both sides. Continue to grow and show me the direction I need to be traveling. Continue to be with Sara & Jeff, Deb, Howard & Cherie, Joe; guide Michaela on what she needs. Keep being with Noel on her journey. Thank you for everything you have given to my family and me; continue to bless everyone as we are learning to listen and be ambassadors of your name!
- Prayers for my sister during this time as she has serious memory issues. Pray for P as she gets ready to sell her house and buy another one.
- Lord, who wastes nothing, even in our places of heartache, bring good. You alone are God. Glorify yourself in the midst of places where we might otherwise despair. You alone are our help. Be glorified.
- Continued prayers and thanks to God for our daughter’s results from surgery. It has been miraculous and she is sleeping 8 hours.
- Please pray that my partner can feel safe to open up during this time with me being pregnant and to have him know he is not alone.
- Prayers for L in the midst of her recovery and protection for our soldiers.
- Thank you, Jesus for your steadfast love. I am still sinning but the Holy Spirit convicts me and I repent. Thank you for self-awareness and love for others. My broken heart is gone because you replaced it.
- Please pray for K. She is facing surgery for breast cancer. She needs prayer to bolster her faith in a favorable outcome. Please pray that God guides the surgeon’s hands. Pray that there will be a good diagnosis.
- Full healing for D with possible cancer issues, recovering from recent procedure.
- Prayers for employment for daughter. That God would lead her to just the right fit.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH AND CAMP STAFF:
STAFF: (Rev. Dr.) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard Hayland, Taylor Miller, Kaeden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Jeff Scott, Gregory Wagenfuhr, and Joel Whitehead.
STAFF: (Rev. Dr.) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard Hayland, Taylor Miller, Kaeden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Jeff Scott, Gregory Wagenfuhr, and Joel Whitehead.
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”