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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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October 3, 2013

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God's Plan, God's Promises, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

Letting Go

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. [Jeremiah 29:11 (GW)]

For most of us, life hasn’t turned out as we expected it would. In some ways, it is much better, but in other ways, life took some unasked for turns. We’ve all had our share of sorrow and disappointment; shattered dreams litter our lives. Lord, remind us that those were our hopes and desires, not yours. Help us release our unattainable dreams, and the grief that accompanies them, the way we would helium balloons, letting them fly away out of sight. It’s only when we let go of what will never be that we can reach out to receive what is yet to come. Reassure us, Lord, that your plan far exceeds anything we could ever have envisioned.

 

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October 2, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works

Be of Service

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. [Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)]

It’s often said, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” Father, keep us mindful that the Lord helps those who help one another. By looking to the needs of others, we honor you. Today, open my eyes and give me a willing heart. May my actions serve others and glorify you.

 

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October 1, 2013

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Promises

Let’s Recognize the Hand of God

Reach down from heaven and rescue me; rescue me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies. [Psalm 144:7 (NLT)

The recent flooding in Colorado, reminded me of this story about a man caught in another flood. He stood on the porch as the sheriff went by in his jeep. The officer offered to evacuate the man but was told, “No, thank you, God will save me!” The flood waters rose and the man moved to an upstairs bedroom. A boat sailed by with neighbors in it. They called out to the man and offered him the last seat in their boat. “No, thank you,” was his reply. “God will protect me.” The waters continued to rise and the man had to climb out on his roof. The National Guard flew by in a helicopter and the soldiers called out to the man. They would lower a rope so he could climb aboard. Again, he refused, saying, “God will reach down from heaven and rescue me!” Unfortunately, the flood waters continued to rise and the man eventually drowned. At the pearly gates, he asked God why he’d not been rescued. “I sent you a jeep, a boat and a helicopter,” was His reply. “What were you waiting for?”

Heavenly Father, may we always recognize your hand when it reaches out to us. May we never forget that we, too, must do our part if we hope to be rescued from life’s difficulties.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. [Psalm 91:14-15 (NLT)]

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September 30, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Prayer

Let us Pray

2013-9-30So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. [Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)]

Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers. May we approach you both reverently, as we would a king, and confidently and honestly, as we would a dear friend.

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! [Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT)]

 

 

 

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September 29, 2013

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Treasure Hunting

I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. [Psalm 119:162 (NLT)]

Our understanding of the Bible is a bit like being at the seashore. Having an unopened Bible and only encountering it when the gospel is read at church is like gazing at the ocean and listening to the surf. If we merely glance through the Bible from time to time, we’ve dipped our toes into the sea, but we’re barely wet. When we consider just a few verses, we’re like swimmers. We’ve gotten wet, but we’re still just skimming over the surface. When we actually study God’s holy word, when we examine each verse in its context, attempt to make sense out of it, and try to understand how it applies to our lives, we’re like divers who get beneath the surface of the sea. It is the divers who get to see the vivid colors, the fabulous sea creatures, the coral reefs and even discover hidden treasure. There is treasure to be found in God’s word. Let’s do a little diving today!

Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you, a knowledge of God himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him. [Proverbs 2:3-5 (TLB)]