Category Archives: Family, Friends & Fellowship

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November 15, 2013

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Thanks & Praise

For Those Who Have Led Us on Our Faith Journey

So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it! [Hebrews 6:1-3 (MSG)]

Once we become “Christian,” we don’t stop learning and growing in our belief.

Today, O Lord, we offer thanks for all those who have helped us mature in faith. Thank you for our teachers, pastors and those who provide music with which to praise you. Thank you for those who work behind the scenes to keep your church functioning. Thank you for those who so freely extend the hand of Christian friendship. Thank you for those who offer hugs, prayers, words of wisdom and true examples of walking with Jesus. Thank you for those strangers, angels in disguise, who remind us of your presence when they pass through our lives. Finally, Lord, thank you for those of your servants who have given us challenging tasks that have expanded our talents and deepened our faith.

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October 11, 2013

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Patience & Perseverance

The Thistles in My Garden

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A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with 2013-10-11difficult people. [2 Timothy 2:24 (NLT)]

Oh Lord, I know you don’t expect me to like everyone, yet you do expect me to love them. That’s not an easy task. There are some people in the garden of my life who are like thistles. They are thorny and difficult and seem to cause irritation wherever they are. Like the thistle, they are troublesome and need to be handled with gloves. Yet, in spite of their prickly spines and pesky nature, the thistle blossoms are really quite lovely.

Help me, Lord, to see past the abrasiveness and sharp edges of the difficult people in my life so I can appreciate their beauty, too.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. [Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)]

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October 4, 2013

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

Compassion

Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. [1 Peter 3:8 (GW)]

Lord, stop me when I cross the line and my love and compassion become interference or control. Remind me to respect other people’s right to learn their own lessons, as painful as that sometimes may be for them (and me). Don’t let my compassion cripple the ones I love by sending a message that they are neither capable nor accountable. Keep me sensitive to the difference between empathizing or caring about someone and smothering, controlling or caring for that person.

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September 7, 2013

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

I’m Sorry

An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. [Proverbs 18:19 (NLT)]

Father, help us tear down the obstacles in our strained relationships. Show us how to remedy the tension between us and those who have hurt us or those we have hurt. Help us to forgive and to be willing to ask for forgiveness from others. Fill our hearts with love for all people, even those who have caused us pain.

In some families, please is described as the magic word. In our house, however, it was sorry. [Margaret Laurence]

 

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September 4, 2013

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Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship

For the Shepherds

And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding. [Jeremiah 3:15 (NLT)]

I offer this prayer for Christians everywhere, but especially for our pastors, teachers and missionaries. Enlighten them with your word and enrich their faith. Encourage them in their work and empower them as they witness and teach. May their lives be good examples and may their flocks respond positively to their leadership and lessons.

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August 27, 2013

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works

The Kiss of Christian Love

2013-8-27Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. [1 Peter 5:14 (GW)]

These were Peter’s words to the early Christians who were suffering for their faith. I’m not sure what would happen to us today if we greeted everyone we met with a kiss, even if we only did it at church. No matter how chaste the kiss might be, it would probably result in slapped faces, harassment lawsuits, or irate spouses. As followers of Christ, we don’t have to kiss everyone we meet, but we do have to greet them all with Christian love. That means we greet everyone with a tolerant, forgiving and loving heart.

Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. [1 Peter 4:8 (GW)]