Bloomfield Christian Church

10/12/2026

PASTOR DON'S THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Have you ever said, “Lord, this sure isn’t what I had planned”? I know I have. We picture life going one way, and then something happens that changes everything. Someone lets us down. A door closes. Suddenly, we’re trying to figure out what comes next.

That makes me think about Joseph. I doubt being sold into slavery by his brothers or sitting in a prison cell was anywhere on his list of hopes for the future. But even there, God was with him. Years later, Joseph helped save many lives, including those of his own family. —Genesis 37–50 Life changed Joseph’s plans, but it couldn’t cancel God’s purpose.

Now, that doesn’t make the hard days easy. Sometimes we hurt. Sometimes we have questions. And sometimes our prayer is simply, “Lord, help me get through today.” That’s a prayer you can bring to God, too. Faith doesn’t mean you never wonder why. It means you keep turning to God while you wonder.

So if your life looks different from what you hoped, take a breath. You don’t have to figure everything out today. Ask God to help you take the next faithful step—make that call, accept that help, offer that kindness. A changed plan doesn’t mean you’ve run out of purpose.

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

MONDAY MORNING PRAYER

You know, Lord, I've been thinking about how easy it is to spend our lives waiting for something to get better. We wait for a problem to go away, a prayer to be answered, or something good to finally happen. And all the while, we sometimes fail to appreciate the blessings You've already placed in our lives.

Father, forgive us for the times we've been so concerned about what we don't have that we've forgotten to thank You for what we do have.

Lord, Paul reminds us this morning that Jesus has already given us freedom. But sometimes we keep ourselves tied to old mistakes, painful memories, and worries about things we can't change. Help us understand that we don't have to keep living in the prison of yesterday when Jesus has already opened the door.

And Lord, in today's Gospel, people kept asking Jesus for another sign. Isn't that just like us sometimes? We keep looking for proof that You're working in our lives, while overlooking the countless little ways You've been taking care of us all along.

Father, remind us that a new morning, someone who loves us, a kind word, or simply having the strength to face another day can all be reasons to give You thanks.

And Lord, I especially want to pray for those who are starting this week feeling discouraged. Those who are tired of waiting, tired of hurting, and wondering when life is going to get better. Please help them recognize that even when life isn't good, Your goodness hasn't disappeared.

So as we begin this Monday, Lord, help us stop searching everywhere for what You've already placed right before our eyes. Give us thankful hearts, a little more courage, and enough faith to take the next step, even when we can't see where the road is leading.

Because Father, sometimes the greatest blessing isn't getting something new. It's finally recognizing how much You've already given us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.
Pastor Don

10/11/2026

10/11/2026
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10/11/2026

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER

Lord, thank You for another Sunday. You know, Father, it's amazing how we can wake up feeling good about life, and then somebody says something that gets under our skin. And before we know it, we're upset, thinking about what they said, and letting it spoil a perfectly good day.

Lord, help us remember that just because somebody else is unhappy doesn't mean we have to be unhappy right along with them.

Father, You remind us in the Psalms that You're our Shepherd, the One who restores our souls. And sometimes, Lord, that's just what we need. Not for everything around us to change, but for something inside us to settle down.

Help us be a little more understanding of people who are hard to get along with. We don't always know what they're dealing with. But Father, remind us that we can care about someone without letting their troubles become our troubles.

And Lord, if somebody woke up this morning feeling hurt, worried, or just plain tired of dealing with life, please wrap Your loving arms around them. Remind them that they're not alone and that better days are still possible.

Because Father, we only get so many mornings in this life. Help us not waste this one being upset over something we can't control. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.
Pastor Don

10/10/2026

SATURDAY MORNING PRAYER

Good morning, Lord. Well, it's Saturday, and we've made it through another week. Some days were good, and others were pretty tough. And Lord, some of us are still carrying a few disappointments. But help us remember that Jesus doesn't come to remind us of everything that's gone wrong. He comes to help us see what can still be made right. Thank You, Lord, for loving us through our mistakes and giving us another chance to begin again. In Jesus' name, Amen.

10/09/2026

RECENT EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE DOWN THE ROAD...

You know, sometimes I watch the news and just shake my head. I wonder, what in the world is happening to us?

This week, I read about a former city councilman in Ottumwa, Iowa, who stood before a City Council meeting and offered an invocation to Satan. He ended his prayer with the words, "Hail Satan."

And I thought to myself, have we really come to this? It's the same feeling I get when I hear about another school shooting, another senseless killing, or another terrible tragedy. I'm shocked. I'm angry. And I'm heartbroken. And I ask, "Lord, what's happening to our world?"

But here's something else I've been thinking about. If we're not careful, all this anger, fear, and outrage can begin to change us into people we don't want to become. We can become so angry at what's wrong with the world that we forget to do what's right in the world. And that's a dangerous place to be.

You know, Jesus lived in a world filled with hatred, cruelty, and injustice. Yet He never allowed the darkness around Him to destroy the love within Him. And I think there's a lesson there for all of us. Saint Paul reminds us in Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

So what should we do? Well, I feel we should stand up for what we believe, speak the truth, pray for our communities, protect the innocent, and never be afraid to stand for Jesus. But we must do it without losing the compassion, kindness, and love that make us His followers.

And that's because there's something worth remembering: We will never make the world a better place by allowing the worst things in the world to bring out the worst in us.

So here's my challenge today. The next time the news makes you angry, don't just ask, "What's wrong with this world?" Ask yourself, "Lord, what can I do today to bring a little more of Your light into it?"

Because the world doesn't need more angry people. It needs more people whose faith is stronger than their fear and whose love is stronger than their anger. And perhaps the best way to stand against the darkness is to make sure we're still shining the light of Jesus.

May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.
Pastor Don

10/09/2026

FRIDAY MORNING PRAYER

Father we thank You for another Friday and for helping us make it through another week. Lord, You know that life doesn't always go the way we planned. Sometimes we try so hard to move forward, only to find ourselves taking two steps backward. And I don't know about anyone else, Lord, but there are times when that can get pretty discouraging.

But I've been thinking about something. Before an arrow can fly forward, it has to be pulled backward. And maybe there's a lesson in that for all of us. Just because life has pushed us back doesn't mean we can't move forward again. What feels like a setback today may become an opportunity for something better tomorrow. Lord, help us believe that even our disappointments don't have to be wasted.

Paul reminds us this morning of the importance of faith. And Lord, sometimes faith is simply trusting You when nothing seems to be working out. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that Your power is greater than the things that stand against us. Help us remember that we don't have to face life's struggles alone.

Lord, as we begin this Friday, help us stop measuring our future by the disappointments of our past. Give us the courage to try again, the strength to keep going, and the patience to trust that You are still working in our lives.

And Lord, for anyone who feels like life has knocked them backward, remind them that a setback doesn't have to be the end of their story. Sometimes we discover our greatest strength in the very moments we thought we had none left. Amen.

May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.
Pastor Don

10/08/2026

PASTOR DON'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Life is a funny thing. When we're young, we can't wait to grow up. Then we grow up, pay bills, deal with problems, and wish somebody would let us take a nap like we did in kindergarten!

But seriously, I've come to believe something about life. Sometimes the pain we've been through helps us understand what somebody else is going through. Not because God wanted us to suffer, but because God can still bring something good out of our pain.

I heard a story about a woman who lost her husband. A few months later, her friend lost her husband too. People came with flowers, cards, and comforting words. But this woman simply sat beside her friend, took her hand, and said, "I know. I really do know." And they just sat there and cried together. You see, sometimes the greatest gift we can give somebody isn't advice. It's understanding.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God comforts us in our troubles so we can comfort others. I've learned that some of life's most important lessons aren't learned from books. They're learned through tears.

I don't believe God causes every painful experience to teach us something. But I do believe He can bring something meaningful out of what we've suffered. Maybe the heartbreak you've experienced has made you more compassionate. Maybe your own struggles have helped you recognize the pain somebody else is hiding.

So, here's my challenge today. Don't let what you've been through make your heart hard. Let God's love keep it tender. Be a little more patient and understanding, because you never know what somebody else is carrying.

And remember, sometimes the pain we wish we'd never experienced becomes the very thing that helps us understand someone else's tears.
May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.

Pastor Don

10/08/2026

Thursday Morning Prayer

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for waking us up to another Thursday and giving us another opportunity to experience Your goodness.

Lord, I've come to realize that it's easy to have faith when life is going our way. But what about those days when life hurts, our prayers seem unanswered, and nothing makes sense? You know, Lord, sometimes the greatest demonstration of faith isn't standing tall. It's simply refusing to let go of You when everything in us feels like giving up.

And Lord, there are people waking up this morning who know exactly what I'm talking about. They're hurting, they're worried, and some are just plain tired of trying to hold everything together. It takes tremendous courage to keep walking with You when life hurts and we don't understand why.

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. So, Lord, remind us that just because we haven't received an answer doesn't mean You haven't heard our prayers. Give us enough strength for today and enough faith to take one more step.

And when life gets difficult, remind us that the cross wasn't the end of Jesus' story. Easter morning was coming. Because faith doesn't mean life won't hurt. It means we don't have to face the hurt alone. Thank You, Lord, for holding on to us, especially on those days when we're barely holding on to You. In Jesus' loving name, we pray. Amen.

May you be blessed just as you are a blessing to me.
Pastor Don