Author Archives: famtree2014

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 6, 2013

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty

LIKE A STABLE, LIFE CAN GET MESSY

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. [Proverbs 14:4 (NLT)]

Lord, sometimes life is messy and demanding; it gets pretty chaotic and challenging. You never promised us that it would be easy or that we wouldn’t have to work hard. Help us find joy not only in the blessings of our lives, but also in the labor and mess that go along with having those blessings.

Just remember, every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there! [Barbara Johnson]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 5, 2013

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Thanks & Praise

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God get blamed? [Proverbs 19:3 (MSG)]

Isn’t it thought-provoking how often we take credit for our achievements, but tend to blame God for our failures and disappointments? Perhaps it should be the other way around.

My victory and honor come from God alone. [Psalm 62:7a (NLT)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 4, 2013

Posted under

Money & Wealth, Thanks & Praise

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU

Now, our God, we thank you, and we praise your glorious name! All these things didn’t come from me and my people. All these things come from you. We are only giving back to you things that came from you. We are only strangers traveling through this world like our ancestors. Our time on earth is like a passing shadow, and we cannot stop it. [1 Chronicles 29:13-15 (ERV)]

These were David’s words when all of the millions of dollars’ worth of gifts were assembled for the building of the Temple. He began by thanking the Lord for the privilege of giving! Let his words remind us that we are simply renters here on earth and everything we have is on loan from God. It’s His, not ours, and we certainly can’t take it with us when we die, which is why, as was recently pointed out to me at church, we’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 3, 2013

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, God's Promises, Patience & Perseverance, Prayer

DO THE WORK

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or terrified. The Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on the Lord’s temple is finished. [1 Chronicles 28:20 (GW)]

Thank you, Father, for reminding us that, although you make the plans, we have to do the work. Give us perseverance and endurance to keep working even when we see little or no progress. Thank you for your love, guidance, and patience. We know you have great plans for us; help us to achieve them.

Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you. [Attributed to St. Ignatius Loyola]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 2, 2013

Posted under

Fruit of the Spirit, Holy Spirit

MAY WE BE FRUITFUL

2013-6-2I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. [John 15:5 (ERV)]

O Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can blossom and flourish and live the abundant life you have planned for me.

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 1, 2013

Posted under

Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Peace of God, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

IT’S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them in the depths of the ocean! [Micah 7:18-19 (NLT)]

If  He can forgive us and throw our sins away, why can’t we? We need to sweep away the cobwebs of the past. Let’s discard any regrets that are cluttering our lives, toss out any negative attitudes that don’t fit our faith, and wash away any guilt that is soiling our souls. It’s time to make room in our lives for God’s love and peace.