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

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. – Psalm 37:8 (NLT)

Have you ever been around someone who was really angry? I remember a bully that rode my bus to school, and she was always picking on others and yelling at the other kids on the bus. Most of the time, if people haven't learned to handle their emotions in healthy ways, those emotions can lead them into destructive habits.

Maybe unchecked emotions won't lead you to bully kids on the bus, but it could affect other things in your life. It could keep you from getting a promotion at your future job. Or maybe it causes you to hurt friends and family that are close to you.

Today's Truth: Unchecked Emotions Hurt You.

God always wants the best for you and your life. That's why His word encourages us to stop being angry. Anger can lead you to do and say things that aren't healthy for you or for others. God wants you to walk in the good things He's planned for you, and anger can keep you from relationships and good things.

So today, if you've been guilty of letting anger boss you around, choose to do things differently. Determine that you won't let anger be your first response. Go to God and get His creative ideas on how you can beat anger in your life.

Taken from studentdevos.com