Verse of the Day:
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly , but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11: 24-25
I came across the following quote yesterday:
"To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving" Max Beerbohm
Many times I find that the benefits of giving to others is truly a benefit to myself. It is not why I give, but it does help me to want to give more. It can be addictive. The more you do the more you desire to do. I guess this is why God calls us to care for others. Sometimes as the quote by Max Beerbohm says the greatest gifts are sometimes the ones we don't even know that we have given. Give freely and be refreshed!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Day 26 - Inner Beauty
Verse of the Day:
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3: 3-4
Who among us does not want to be of great worth in God's sight. I really like this passage. It is not very popular because right before it is the part about how wives should submit to their husbands. It this day we get lost in the equality issues and miss the most important part of the message. That it is our inner self that is most important in the sight of God. What is on the inside is not always valued by the world. Sometimes we get so caught in this world that we miss what is valued in the next. Spending 40 days giving is working on our inner selves. It is remembering to put others first, to share what we have and to spread joy.
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3: 3-4
Who among us does not want to be of great worth in God's sight. I really like this passage. It is not very popular because right before it is the part about how wives should submit to their husbands. It this day we get lost in the equality issues and miss the most important part of the message. That it is our inner self that is most important in the sight of God. What is on the inside is not always valued by the world. Sometimes we get so caught in this world that we miss what is valued in the next. Spending 40 days giving is working on our inner selves. It is remembering to put others first, to share what we have and to spread joy.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Day 25 - It's not easy being green
Verse of the Day:
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17: 7-8
This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. I want to always be green! My Grandmother was just like this passage. She worked on her faith everyday. She trusted God to be in charge and so she was always bearing good fruit and her leaves where always green. Even after she had cancer and dealing with the effect of Chemo, she taught vacation bible school, sung in the choir and did her daily devotions. When she became bed ridden and knew that her time was short, she became excited about soon being able to sing with the angels. This was such a gift to her family has her testimony stood as an awesome example of trust.
Today give the gift of thanksgiving for those people in your life that are always green. If they are still present in this world, tell them personally.
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17: 7-8
This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. I want to always be green! My Grandmother was just like this passage. She worked on her faith everyday. She trusted God to be in charge and so she was always bearing good fruit and her leaves where always green. Even after she had cancer and dealing with the effect of Chemo, she taught vacation bible school, sung in the choir and did her daily devotions. When she became bed ridden and knew that her time was short, she became excited about soon being able to sing with the angels. This was such a gift to her family has her testimony stood as an awesome example of trust.
Today give the gift of thanksgiving for those people in your life that are always green. If they are still present in this world, tell them personally.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Day 24 - Shamrocks
Verse of the Day:
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow many will celebrate St. Patricks Day. The day marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick. I don't know alot about St. Patrick. I do know that he used the shamrock to help to explain the Trinity to unbelievers in Ireland. Some times I think like many holidays, we have lost focus of why it is celebrated. It is a Christian holiday honoring a man that dedicated his life to following the call to spread the Good News. As you celebrate, where green and maybe a shamrock, but remember that we are celebrating the gifts one man gave many.
Many people talk about four leaf clovers and the good luck they bring. Of course they are good luck - just think a four leaf clover adds you into the relationship of the Trinity. Top of the morning to you all!
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow many will celebrate St. Patricks Day. The day marks the anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick. I don't know alot about St. Patrick. I do know that he used the shamrock to help to explain the Trinity to unbelievers in Ireland. Some times I think like many holidays, we have lost focus of why it is celebrated. It is a Christian holiday honoring a man that dedicated his life to following the call to spread the Good News. As you celebrate, where green and maybe a shamrock, but remember that we are celebrating the gifts one man gave many.
Many people talk about four leaf clovers and the good luck they bring. Of course they are good luck - just think a four leaf clover adds you into the relationship of the Trinity. Top of the morning to you all!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Day 23 - TAKE!
Verse of the Day:
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Matthew 26:26
TAKE! Have you ever really thought about what that word means? Have you offered a gift where you have said, Take what you need? That can be risky because there might not be anything left. Recently, I did a study on the song "Take my life and let it be". If this song is sung as a prayer, it offers everything that we have to God. For me that is a little scary - what happens if there is nothing left over for me. So many times I give out of my plenty. The song means that I surrender all of me. My gift is me, my thoughts, my heart, my gold, my intellect, my days -everything. Why are we so afraid to say TAKE!
Jesus if our example of how we are to give, to surrender all for God. Jesus says to each of us TAKE! He knew in the offering that there would be nothing left. Has the time come for you to offer the greatest gift you have - yourself? Are you ready to say TAKE!
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Matthew 26:26
TAKE! Have you ever really thought about what that word means? Have you offered a gift where you have said, Take what you need? That can be risky because there might not be anything left. Recently, I did a study on the song "Take my life and let it be". If this song is sung as a prayer, it offers everything that we have to God. For me that is a little scary - what happens if there is nothing left over for me. So many times I give out of my plenty. The song means that I surrender all of me. My gift is me, my thoughts, my heart, my gold, my intellect, my days -everything. Why are we so afraid to say TAKE!
Jesus if our example of how we are to give, to surrender all for God. Jesus says to each of us TAKE! He knew in the offering that there would be nothing left. Has the time come for you to offer the greatest gift you have - yourself? Are you ready to say TAKE!
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