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.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
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!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Day 32 - Fear? Not!
Verse of the Day:
"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31b
When Kelsey was little she had many fears, most were irrational and sometimes I would quote this verse to help calm her. But aren't we all just like Kelsey. We live so much of our lives in fear, worried about our loved ones, finances, the church, our health. We think that we can have some control over these things in our lives, but when the "wind blows" we get scared. If you read the verse prior to the verse of the day it says, "But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out. Lord, save me! Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." Matthew 15:30-31a. We need to remember that when we get scared, Jesus is there and will IMMEDIATELY reach out and catch us. Give today without fear - knowing that Jesus will catch us if he needs to.
"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31b
When Kelsey was little she had many fears, most were irrational and sometimes I would quote this verse to help calm her. But aren't we all just like Kelsey. We live so much of our lives in fear, worried about our loved ones, finances, the church, our health. We think that we can have some control over these things in our lives, but when the "wind blows" we get scared. If you read the verse prior to the verse of the day it says, "But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out. Lord, save me! Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." Matthew 15:30-31a. We need to remember that when we get scared, Jesus is there and will IMMEDIATELY reach out and catch us. Give today without fear - knowing that Jesus will catch us if he needs to.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 31 - Become a Beacon
Verse of the Day:
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." MATTHEW 5:16
One night when I was in Niger, we had the privilege to listen to a pastor and his wife share their faith story. They had become Christians while serving as Niger's Ambassador to the United States. He shared how he had no peace in his life. One of the people he came in contact with everyday seemed to always be joyful and at peace. When he asked why, the man shared with him about Jesus.
They both returned to Niger after living 16 years in the U.S. However, they were returning to family and friends that were still Muslims. His friend in the U.S. said "only the sand and stones will listen to you". They have since started 4 churches in two years. He stressed that people want to be able to see Christ in you. He said that you get a chance to share your faith when people recognize that you have something in your life that they are searching for. People need to know that being a Christian makes a difference.
If we live for Christ we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light when we don't speak when we should, when we go along with the crowd, not explaining our light to others or when we ignore the needs of others. Your gift today - Be a beacon.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." MATTHEW 5:16
One night when I was in Niger, we had the privilege to listen to a pastor and his wife share their faith story. They had become Christians while serving as Niger's Ambassador to the United States. He shared how he had no peace in his life. One of the people he came in contact with everyday seemed to always be joyful and at peace. When he asked why, the man shared with him about Jesus.
They both returned to Niger after living 16 years in the U.S. However, they were returning to family and friends that were still Muslims. His friend in the U.S. said "only the sand and stones will listen to you". They have since started 4 churches in two years. He stressed that people want to be able to see Christ in you. He said that you get a chance to share your faith when people recognize that you have something in your life that they are searching for. People need to know that being a Christian makes a difference.
If we live for Christ we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light when we don't speak when we should, when we go along with the crowd, not explaining our light to others or when we ignore the needs of others. Your gift today - Be a beacon.
Day 30 - Welcoming Angels
Verse of the Day:
"Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1-2
My maternal grandparents had trivets hung as decorations in their kitchen - a lost art form today. I always enjoyed reading them although none of us took any when we cleaned out the house. I still remember one had today's verse of the day on it. I remember thinking entertaining angels? How could that be? We never know who God places in our path to challenge us. Remember hospitality is a gift we can give. Sleeping over IHN, providing a meal, serving at the soup kitchen...maybe we have welcomed angels. Who knows - God!
"Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1-2
My maternal grandparents had trivets hung as decorations in their kitchen - a lost art form today. I always enjoyed reading them although none of us took any when we cleaned out the house. I still remember one had today's verse of the day on it. I remember thinking entertaining angels? How could that be? We never know who God places in our path to challenge us. Remember hospitality is a gift we can give. Sleeping over IHN, providing a meal, serving at the soup kitchen...maybe we have welcomed angels. Who knows - God!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Breakfast Wednesday - March 24, 2010
We will again meet for breakfast on Wed. 3/24/2010 at 7:30am at the Shaker Cafe. Come share the adventure of giving - the good and the bad.
Day 29 - Renewed Focus!
Verse of the Day:
"But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14
The verse of the day was one of the scripture lessons at worship yesterday. The sermon talked about having focus. I have talked with many of you over the last week and realized that some are having a hard time. 40 days is a long time to constantly remember to have the act of giving as a priority in your day. I too have found that it is hard to keep the focus. I encourage each of you if you have fallen behind or feel you have failed, to "forget what is behind" and start a new today with strength of purpose and determined focus to finish this 40 days of giving. Remember that each day is a new day with God. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
"But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14
The verse of the day was one of the scripture lessons at worship yesterday. The sermon talked about having focus. I have talked with many of you over the last week and realized that some are having a hard time. 40 days is a long time to constantly remember to have the act of giving as a priority in your day. I too have found that it is hard to keep the focus. I encourage each of you if you have fallen behind or feel you have failed, to "forget what is behind" and start a new today with strength of purpose and determined focus to finish this 40 days of giving. Remember that each day is a new day with God. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
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