Verse of the Day:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who ever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7
We have come to the completion of the 40 Days of giving, but have we? Jesus said "It is finished." as he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. But that was not an end, but a beginning. I too feel that although we have reached the finish line, it should be just a beginning. A start to a life more open to the call to serve, ready for a deeper relationship with Christ. A beginning to trust that God has a purpose to fulfill in and through us. I hope that giving gifts has made you more aware of others, more aware that some gifts are so small yet so big. Continue to ask God how he can use you each day and I am sure that your life we be greatly blessed.
Thank you for sharing this adventure with me. May you journey forward be one of great joy!
To God be the Glory!!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Day 39 - "Living Water"
Verse of the Day:
"Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." John 4:14
Last night at the Maundy Thursday service we sang a hymn titled Fill MY Cup Lord.
Like the women at the well I was seeking,
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
The refrain:
Fill my cup Lord - I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
I left the service feeling that I am to fast today. I was feed at the table of my Lord last night and that should be all sufficient for today. Many times I neglect to feed my soul, but I certainly don't miss a meal to feed my body. Today as we remember Jesus suffering on the cross, I hope that the small hunger that I might feel will remind me that Jesus is enough. That I will never be hungry or thirsty if I feed my soul on the true bread of life. I encourage you to join me in this 24 hour of fasting, it is my gift for today. My 24 hour fast will end following tonight's service. I am asking Jesus to please fill my cup as he empties his for me.
"Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." John 4:14
Last night at the Maundy Thursday service we sang a hymn titled Fill MY Cup Lord.
Like the women at the well I was seeking,
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
The refrain:
Fill my cup Lord - I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
I left the service feeling that I am to fast today. I was feed at the table of my Lord last night and that should be all sufficient for today. Many times I neglect to feed my soul, but I certainly don't miss a meal to feed my body. Today as we remember Jesus suffering on the cross, I hope that the small hunger that I might feel will remind me that Jesus is enough. That I will never be hungry or thirsty if I feed my soul on the true bread of life. I encourage you to join me in this 24 hour of fasting, it is my gift for today. My 24 hour fast will end following tonight's service. I am asking Jesus to please fill my cup as he empties his for me.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Day 38 - Made for a Mission
Verse of the Day:
"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." Acts 20:24 (NCV)
As we near the end of our 40 day adventure, I encourage you all to complete the mission. Like most things it has been a joy and also difficult. Staying focused has been a challenge. Many of you have read the book, The Purpose Driven Life. In the chapter, Made for a Mission, it talks about how God is at work in the world and he wants us to join him. God wants us to have both a ministry and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers and your mission is your service to unbelievers. The word mission comes from the Latin word for "sending". Jesus calls us to come to him, but then to go for him. What an honor to be part of God's redeeming plan. Even though our 40 days are almost over, our mission is just beginning. As you look back over the past 40 days if you only made a difference for one person, you efforts will have been worth it. Remember God made you for a mission.
Sorry about not posting yesterday. Debbie and I traveled to see our sister to have a rare sister day and celebrate both of their upcoming birthdays. It was a fun gift to give and also one to get.
"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." Acts 20:24 (NCV)
As we near the end of our 40 day adventure, I encourage you all to complete the mission. Like most things it has been a joy and also difficult. Staying focused has been a challenge. Many of you have read the book, The Purpose Driven Life. In the chapter, Made for a Mission, it talks about how God is at work in the world and he wants us to join him. God wants us to have both a ministry and a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers and your mission is your service to unbelievers. The word mission comes from the Latin word for "sending". Jesus calls us to come to him, but then to go for him. What an honor to be part of God's redeeming plan. Even though our 40 days are almost over, our mission is just beginning. As you look back over the past 40 days if you only made a difference for one person, you efforts will have been worth it. Remember God made you for a mission.
Sorry about not posting yesterday. Debbie and I traveled to see our sister to have a rare sister day and celebrate both of their upcoming birthdays. It was a fun gift to give and also one to get.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Day 36- Blessed to be a Blessing
Verse of the Day:
"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2
God promises to bless us so that we can become a blessing to others. It is quite a call. We need to remember that what we do for others should be out of thanksgiving for what God has done for us.
Today's gift for me was different. I listen to 1210am in the morning and the radio host was sharing a story about a young man named Matthew Snyder who was killed in Iraq on March 3, 2006. At his funeral a group from the Westboro Baptist Church lead by a man named Fred Phelps held a demonstration against Matthew. They had signs with ugly statements that were untrue and hurtful. Their purpose is to use the forum of soldier's funerals to gain attention to their cause to make the world understand that God is killing our young men because of the evil ways we live.
They also believe that God flew the planes into the World Trade Center. Matthew was not evil and didn't live an evil life. He was 20 years old and serving his country - he died a hero. Matthew's dad has sued Mr. Phelps and the Westboro Church to help to prevent them from hurting other grieving parents. He won and then the case was overturned on appeal. It is now a first amendment case being argued before the supreme court in October.
I am offended by people who don't understand the call to love your neighbor and to be a blessing to others. Hate never wins! It gives the church a bad name and hurts the cause of winning people to Christ. We should all be indignant.
If Matthew's dad loses he will be responsible for the entire court costs. My gift today was to help by donating to the defense fund. If you are interested the website is www.MatthewSynder.org.
"I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2
God promises to bless us so that we can become a blessing to others. It is quite a call. We need to remember that what we do for others should be out of thanksgiving for what God has done for us.
Today's gift for me was different. I listen to 1210am in the morning and the radio host was sharing a story about a young man named Matthew Snyder who was killed in Iraq on March 3, 2006. At his funeral a group from the Westboro Baptist Church lead by a man named Fred Phelps held a demonstration against Matthew. They had signs with ugly statements that were untrue and hurtful. Their purpose is to use the forum of soldier's funerals to gain attention to their cause to make the world understand that God is killing our young men because of the evil ways we live.
They also believe that God flew the planes into the World Trade Center. Matthew was not evil and didn't live an evil life. He was 20 years old and serving his country - he died a hero. Matthew's dad has sued Mr. Phelps and the Westboro Church to help to prevent them from hurting other grieving parents. He won and then the case was overturned on appeal. It is now a first amendment case being argued before the supreme court in October.
I am offended by people who don't understand the call to love your neighbor and to be a blessing to others. Hate never wins! It gives the church a bad name and hurts the cause of winning people to Christ. We should all be indignant.
If Matthew's dad loses he will be responsible for the entire court costs. My gift today was to help by donating to the defense fund. If you are interested the website is www.MatthewSynder.org.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Day 35 - The Lord needs it!
Verse of the Day:
"If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it." Luke 19:31
Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday. The story about the colt is very interesting to me. Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead to a village where he tells them that they will find a colt. He tells them to untie it and to bring it to him. He instructs them to answer anyone who questions them with "The Lord needs it". In the other gospels it says that they promise to bring it back, but in Luke's telling there is no guarantee of the colts return. I began to think, how would I respond if someone showed up and without asking started to take something of mine. When the response was "the Lord needs it" would I willingly let it go? Would I want or expect a guarantee of it's return? I wonder why the owner was so willing? I wonder how the spirit gave him a generous attitude? I wonder if God told him ahead of time to be prepared? I wonder who he was? Was he a follower? There are so many unanswered questions. Why? Maybe it is an example of how we are called to response when the Lord needs something or needs us. Maybe it is a lesson in trust. We so often feel we need to have all the information before we can respond. Only God has need of the answers, we are just asked to follow. Are we prepared to give as the colt's owner whatever the Lord has need of?
"If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it." Luke 19:31
Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday. The story about the colt is very interesting to me. Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead to a village where he tells them that they will find a colt. He tells them to untie it and to bring it to him. He instructs them to answer anyone who questions them with "The Lord needs it". In the other gospels it says that they promise to bring it back, but in Luke's telling there is no guarantee of the colts return. I began to think, how would I respond if someone showed up and without asking started to take something of mine. When the response was "the Lord needs it" would I willingly let it go? Would I want or expect a guarantee of it's return? I wonder why the owner was so willing? I wonder how the spirit gave him a generous attitude? I wonder if God told him ahead of time to be prepared? I wonder who he was? Was he a follower? There are so many unanswered questions. Why? Maybe it is an example of how we are called to response when the Lord needs something or needs us. Maybe it is a lesson in trust. We so often feel we need to have all the information before we can respond. Only God has need of the answers, we are just asked to follow. Are we prepared to give as the colt's owner whatever the Lord has need of?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Day 34 - Praise Him!
Verse of the Day:
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord." Psalm 150: 6
I woke this morning with the song for the Beauty of the Earth in my head. The sun is shining and the world is starting to wake from it's winter sleep. It is beautiful. The verse of the day comes from the last chapter in the book of Psalm. What a fitting way to end the book of praise with a direct encouragement for us to praise God. Give today the gift of praise.
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our "GIFT" of grateful praise.
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord." Psalm 150: 6
I woke this morning with the song for the Beauty of the Earth in my head. The sun is shining and the world is starting to wake from it's winter sleep. It is beautiful. The verse of the day comes from the last chapter in the book of Psalm. What a fitting way to end the book of praise with a direct encouragement for us to praise God. Give today the gift of praise.
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our "GIFT" of grateful praise.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Day 33 - Beautiful Words
Verse of the Day:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
Wow! When I read this I know that I have sinned! I have used my mouth to say unwholesome things. I have gossiped and have put others down sometimes just to make myself feel better. Could you imagine what the world would be like if we only said things that were helpful and could benefit the one who was listening. Could you imagine what our government could do if they followed this call. What our church would be like! What a gift we could give God if we followed this. Can you spend a day not saying anything unwholesome? Can you spend the rest of the 40 days we have left following this call? What a gift it would be!
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
Wow! When I read this I know that I have sinned! I have used my mouth to say unwholesome things. I have gossiped and have put others down sometimes just to make myself feel better. Could you imagine what the world would be like if we only said things that were helpful and could benefit the one who was listening. Could you imagine what our government could do if they followed this call. What our church would be like! What a gift we could give God if we followed this. Can you spend a day not saying anything unwholesome? Can you spend the rest of the 40 days we have left following this call? What a gift it would be!
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