Category Archives: Family, Friends & Fellowship

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May 2, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Nature

Accepting Help

accepting helpListen to my pleading, Lord! Be merciful and send the help I need. [Psalm 27:7 (TLB)]

There it was, smack dab in the middle of the road: a Florida softshell turtle. Since softshells rarely leave the water except to bask in the sun at water’s edge, I think this one was on her way to dig a nest and drop her eggs. Unfortunately, every time a car came along, she tucked herself back into her shell. Just about the time she felt confident enough to stick out her neck, along would come another car and she’d retreat again into her shell. At that rate, I knew it was highly unlikely that she’d make it across the road before becoming road-kill. Florida softshells are big and can be aggressive; this one was about two feet long and probably weighed forty-five pounds. My concern was that, if I tried to pick her up, I’d end up dropping her before getting her to safety, especially if she got feisty about being carried. The best I could do was caution the oncoming cars to swerve around her. Fortunately, a landscaper stopped, reached in his truck to get a shovel, gently scooped her up, and carried her into the bushes.

What did I learn from all of this? First, if we ever want to get somewhere, we’ve got to stick out our necks. Second, sometimes we have to accept a little help to get where we need to go.

Lord, we are often more willing to offer a helping hand to others than to accept the hand that offers help to us. Please guide us to know when we are able tough it out on our own and when we need some aid. Keep us from hiding in shells to conceal our vulnerability. Don’t ever let us be too proud to ask for help; keep us from rebuffing assistance when it is offered. Thank you for the help you send that comes from friends and strangers.

Be brave enough to accept the help of others. [Melba Cosgrove]

Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. [Proverbs 16:18 (TLB)]

 

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March 22, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Forgiveness

People Who Live in Glass Houses

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. [Matthew 7:1-2 (MSG)]

Father, thank you for the reminder that the only condemning I should be doing is of me, not of my brothers and sisters. May I always remember that old phrase, “People who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones!” Keep me from a critical frame of mind so I always think the best of others, as I hope they do of me.

What we really want is to evaluate those around us with a divine justice, while we want them to evaluate us with a divine compassion. [From “Pieces of Eight” by Sidney Harris]

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. [Matthew 7:3-5 (MSG)]

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February 26, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works

Are We Ready, Willing and Able?

Father, guide us so that we are truly able to celebrate the success of others, even when our lives aren’t going smoothly. Help us to show empathy and concern when there are people who need our compassion and understanding, even when we would prefer having a sympathetic ear for our own problems. May we always be willing to listen (and respond) with love.

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. [Romans 12:13a (NLT)]

 

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January 7, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Forgiveness, Love & Works

Love Isn’t a Feeling: It is a Choice

2014-1-7Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)]

Guide us in our relationships, O Lord. Instead of trying to improve those we love, show us how to be better people ourselves. Remind us daily that love is patient and kind, never vindictive or intolerant. Help us choose to be generous and understanding rather than selfish or indifferent, considerate and respectful rather than insensitive or rude. Let your love lead us to forgive, not blame, and honor, not scorn. Bless the ones we love. Keep us mindful that maintaining any relationship requires a conscious choice and continual commitment if it is going to withstand the challenges of life.

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December 28, 2013

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

Remember When?

Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. I know about my wrongs, and I can’t forget my sin. [Psalm 51:2-3 (NCV)]

As we gather with friends and family over the holidays, we may spend time reminiscing and sharing memories. “Remember when…?” we ask. Sometimes this recollecting causes us to pause and shudder. A memory of a wrong we committed rears its ugly head and we begin to feel shame and guilt. We remember the things we should have done and failed to do and the things we did that we shouldn’t have done but did. We remember harsh words, short tempers, deceitfulness, and other failings. We may remember, but, thank God, He doesn’t! Once forgiven, our sins are also forgotten.

Thank you, Lord, for your loving gifts of forgiveness and forgetfulness. Thank you, Lord, for this coming new year and another opportunity for us to get it right!

I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore.” [Jeremiah 31:34b (NCV)]

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December 19, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Obedience, Thanks & Praise

Some Overdue Thanks

The punishment you gave me was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. They are more valuable to me than millions in silver and gold! [Psalm 119:71-72 (TLB)]

Discipline and punishment are two concepts that seem to have fallen out of favor and yet they teach us about living as we should: about accepting responsibility for our words and actions. They teach us self-restraint, the inevitability of consequences, and the importance of being true to ourselves and God. Oddly enough, I don’t remember ever thanking someone for punishing or disciplining me. In fact, I probably said unpleasant things about them under my breath. Today let’s give them some overdue thanks.

Thank you, Lord, for those people in the past who cared enough about us to demand good behavior and to teach us the difference between right and wrong. Thank you for those people in our lives today who won’t hesitate to chastise us when we err in our ways. Lord, thank you for correcting us by putting people in our lives who make us accountable for our conduct.

After you have corrected me, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey! Oh, don’t forsake me and let me slip back into sin again. [Psalm 119:7-8 (TLB)]