Kendall
United Methodist Church

By July 5, 2025, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a federal budget bill. Provisions of that bill would exact the largest cuts ever to Medicaid, which provides health care for 1 of 5 Americans, and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For Florida, the changes would be particularly devastating:

• 2.9 million Floridians rely on SNAP for monthly grocery assistance
• 3.8 million Floridians depend on Medicaid for health care

Decreasing these federal programs would put a greater burden on the state of Florida, and in the case of health care, on the hospitals and health care facilities we all depend on.

On Tuesday, June 17, Bishop Tom Berlin urged United Methodists to learn about these impacts and to advocate for the most vulnerable in our society. Florida Impact, an advocacy group for nutrition and health care, offered a webinar to provide information. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.

Take action now

1. Learn about the bill and its impacts. Links to information from valued sources are below.
2. Contact U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ashley Moody and ask them to vote against any bill that reduces nutrition and health care for the vulnerable in our society. Call or send email messages to ensure your messages are received in time.

Senator Moody: Call (202) 224-3041 or visit her website.
Senator Scott: Call (202) 224-5274 or visit his website.

Tools to help you learn and act

• Fact sheet detailing impacts on Florida residents
• Medicaid cut fact sheet from the League of Women Voters
• A sample letter/email
• A sample phone call script

Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

Have you noticed that you face battles in life? Life would be a lot easier if God just granted you all your wishes. Then, if you face something tough in life, you could just wish it away on God, and it would be gone. Unfortunately, our battles in life don't go away by wishing. 

But it's not all bad news. God furnishes you with the armor you need to fight your battle. Your job is to pick it up and use it when facing the battles of life.

Today's Truth: God Has Given Us What We Need to Fight Our Battles

Those battles look different to each of us. Sometimes the battles of life are difficult circumstances. At other times, you may battle fear, and it causes you to not step out and do the thing God is calling you to do. Then, at times, you fight against lust or things of the flesh, and it can be hard to stop doing the things that are wrong.

However, the important thing to remember is that God has given you all the tools you need to fight. You just have to stand up and fight, believing that you're equipped and that God is on your side. Regardless of the battle, you can be encouraged; you're not alone. You have the weapons you need to fight your battles each day.

Taken from studentdevos.com