Odd how we can get into conversations with people and mention God and they become uncomfortable.This happened to yours truly a few times in the past week. You are getting 'too religious' people may say. Others may be misinformed about the founding of America and say "all religions should be accepted. We are not just a Christian nation". Lies are out there and it is OK to do your Sunday thing but please do not dare try to 'get religious' in daily conversation.
It makes no sense at all. We are not here just occupying space. Many find the cross of Christ offensive and even well meaning so called 'church going' or 'Sunday Christians' may be more into their denomination than they are into Christ. Ask someone when they accepted Christ as their saviour and at times you may get the answer "I am a member of such and such church." Being a church member is fine, not in the Bible as the way to heaven by the way, but still a nice man made tradition.
If you say you are a believer do you truly love the Lord or are you ashamed of Him? "What are you talking about?" In Mark 8:38 it says "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Matthew 10:33 says something similar and that is "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." 1 Corinthians 1:18 says "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Basically it boils down to religion versus relationship. Many churches even do not encourage a passion for Jesus but more of a 'this is what you do today' and that is that. It becomes more of a social thing to do. We cheer on our favorite football team but can't cheer for the Lord. It is very sad. If you are not following Christ you will believe any lies that Satan throws your way because as it says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Do you want that abundant life?We know more of what is in daily newspaper than what is in our Bible.
Have you ever thought of what your passion is? Let's say you are passionate for a certain sport like running. You love it so very much you get out there each and every day and run 3 to 6 miles. We need to be equipped to face the trials in the world that will cross our path. The Bible is our guidebook for life. If you do not have that type of excitement for Jesus ask Him to place it in your heart. You may need to get rid of some stuff or some friends that are keeping you from being closer to the Lord and find a good church that preaches God's word with power. Jesus is waiting and knocking. Why not let Him come in?
PRAYER: Lord I want to be excited about Jesus. I know sometimes my joy may slip but I need to keep my eyes on your and my thoughts focused on things above. Help me Lord to get rid of things taking away my passion for you and set me on the path that will bring me closer to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Note: take a moment when you can and listen to the following praise and worship song.
http://youtu.be/I17edLkBDCo
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
It has now been one official year that I have entered the blogging world. I gave myself a fresh look on the blog page and started to think about what next steps to take. It has been a journey. I appreciate each of you who have been with me on this journey. I have other writing ideas too. Please pray for me okay?
Anniversaries of anything are always special. I do not expect to get flowers,candy, or sparkling cider but it is a milestone of achievement. Thanks for sticking with me. It is God who gives me strength to continue and the ideas to write about. To God be the Glory! They are not always perfect but I hope they bless and encourage someone out there. If even one person is made to open their heart to Jesus it is worth it.
Speaking of anniversaries, the big anniversary would be the wedding anniversary. For me this December it will be 34 years. Couples who date have the anniversary for when they met. Or there is the engagement anniversary. There are anniversaries of all sorts. Celebrations are wonderful! Being alive and living for God is something to celebrate. Having the joy of Jesus is a huge celebration each day.
Each day as I write I would say to myself the Bible verse in Psalm 19:4 which says "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart by acceptable in thy site oh Lord my strength and my redeemer." Psalm 45:1 says "let my tongue be the pen of a ready writer." Also "search me oh God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) Psalm 104:34 "May my meditation be pleasing to Him as I rejoice in the Lord".
What are you celebrating in your life? I pray knowing Jesus as your saviour is one of the highlights.
PRAYER: Father thank you for celebrations. Thank you for milestones and things to celebrate. Help us remember all we have to celebrate comes from you. I praise you Lord. Let me shine your love to those around me today. In Jesus name. Amen!
Anniversaries of anything are always special. I do not expect to get flowers,candy, or sparkling cider but it is a milestone of achievement. Thanks for sticking with me. It is God who gives me strength to continue and the ideas to write about. To God be the Glory! They are not always perfect but I hope they bless and encourage someone out there. If even one person is made to open their heart to Jesus it is worth it.
Speaking of anniversaries, the big anniversary would be the wedding anniversary. For me this December it will be 34 years. Couples who date have the anniversary for when they met. Or there is the engagement anniversary. There are anniversaries of all sorts. Celebrations are wonderful! Being alive and living for God is something to celebrate. Having the joy of Jesus is a huge celebration each day.
Each day as I write I would say to myself the Bible verse in Psalm 19:4 which says "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart by acceptable in thy site oh Lord my strength and my redeemer." Psalm 45:1 says "let my tongue be the pen of a ready writer." Also "search me oh God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) Psalm 104:34 "May my meditation be pleasing to Him as I rejoice in the Lord".
What are you celebrating in your life? I pray knowing Jesus as your saviour is one of the highlights.
PRAYER: Father thank you for celebrations. Thank you for milestones and things to celebrate. Help us remember all we have to celebrate comes from you. I praise you Lord. Let me shine your love to those around me today. In Jesus name. Amen!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
GET RID OF THE DARK SIDE
Do you have bad stuff in your life like worry, pity parties, stress, reasoning,confusion or maybe things you know deep down inside are not right and would not please God? Perhaps you have been listening to the wrong 'voices' who have put anti God things in your brain and you have not counter attacked them with God's word. You can not continue to dwell on bad stuff and expect to walk victoriously. Many believers can even be led astray if they do not listen to the truth. They will start to believe lies from the enemy and think they are true. You will not be able to convince them otherwise. Satan can send strong delusional forces to make people believe what is good is evil and what is evil is good. It is happening today in the United States. Psalm 12:8 says "The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men." Sounds like today in America right?
Galatians 5:7 says "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" It is easy to be led astray and start believing lies if you are not staying in the word of God. How can you expect to know the truth and know what God has for you unless you open up the Bible? Many times parents who have raised their children for the Lord are very sad when they go off to a liberal institution of higher learning and in many cases are subjected to anti Christian teaching for the first time. Unless the child's walk and faith in God is strong they could, in fact, get led off the path. Proverbs 22:6 assures worried parents that "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says "and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ,and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
Stand firm in what you know to be true. Do not question God. Do you really want to take a chance on heaven or hell? Many mock the fact that someone even like myself would write so much about the Lord. What are you some sort of fanatic? What is a fanatic you may say? I heard someone once say "It is someone who loves Jesus more than you do." You can lead your intellectual life here on earth and conveniently go to church each Sunday because it is 'the thing to do in most social circles' but if you are not changed from your experience or really can not wait til you can leave church then maybe you need to get closer to the Lord.
Isaiah 5 :20 says "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." John 16:33 says ""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Now you yourself may not be deceived by a dark spirit who wants you to believe Satan lies and 'diss God' but you in fact may be caught up in excessive worry, compulsions, fear, anxiety, jumping to conclusions, impulsiveness and a host of other things that control you because you let them. When these type things come up you need to counter attack them by speaking the truth in God's word out loud. Say things like "I over come you Satan by the word of God and the power of God's testimony" (See Revelation 12:11). Speaking the word of God out loud helps to defeat the lies of the enemy.
First start off and admit to God you need Him to take control of your life, all of it!! Our thoughts have to be controlled by the word of God. You either want to walk with Jesus and believe his truth or you can be like the world today that says 'truth is relative' which is a lie from the enemy. Pray to have God's eyes for those around you .Get involved in someones life and stay focused on God and the Bible and you will be less likely to be drug down into a pit of despair.
PRAYER: Lord I know your truth will set me free. I know that negativity and confusion is not from you. I know you are the author of peace and all good things not turmoil, chaos and lies. Lord help me open my eyes and heart to the truth. Block any wrong teaching that I am exposed to and help me recognize it as such. Deliver me from lying tongues who choose to lead me astray. In Jesus Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:Read Romans Chapter 1
Note: Click on link to listen to The Motions by artist Matthew West. Turn up your speakers.
http://youtu.be/qaHmiFaX_pk
Galatians 5:7 says "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" It is easy to be led astray and start believing lies if you are not staying in the word of God. How can you expect to know the truth and know what God has for you unless you open up the Bible? Many times parents who have raised their children for the Lord are very sad when they go off to a liberal institution of higher learning and in many cases are subjected to anti Christian teaching for the first time. Unless the child's walk and faith in God is strong they could, in fact, get led off the path. Proverbs 22:6 assures worried parents that "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says "and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ,and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
Stand firm in what you know to be true. Do not question God. Do you really want to take a chance on heaven or hell? Many mock the fact that someone even like myself would write so much about the Lord. What are you some sort of fanatic? What is a fanatic you may say? I heard someone once say "It is someone who loves Jesus more than you do." You can lead your intellectual life here on earth and conveniently go to church each Sunday because it is 'the thing to do in most social circles' but if you are not changed from your experience or really can not wait til you can leave church then maybe you need to get closer to the Lord.
Isaiah 5 :20 says "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." John 16:33 says ""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Now you yourself may not be deceived by a dark spirit who wants you to believe Satan lies and 'diss God' but you in fact may be caught up in excessive worry, compulsions, fear, anxiety, jumping to conclusions, impulsiveness and a host of other things that control you because you let them. When these type things come up you need to counter attack them by speaking the truth in God's word out loud. Say things like "I over come you Satan by the word of God and the power of God's testimony" (See Revelation 12:11). Speaking the word of God out loud helps to defeat the lies of the enemy.
First start off and admit to God you need Him to take control of your life, all of it!! Our thoughts have to be controlled by the word of God. You either want to walk with Jesus and believe his truth or you can be like the world today that says 'truth is relative' which is a lie from the enemy. Pray to have God's eyes for those around you .Get involved in someones life and stay focused on God and the Bible and you will be less likely to be drug down into a pit of despair.
PRAYER: Lord I know your truth will set me free. I know that negativity and confusion is not from you. I know you are the author of peace and all good things not turmoil, chaos and lies. Lord help me open my eyes and heart to the truth. Block any wrong teaching that I am exposed to and help me recognize it as such. Deliver me from lying tongues who choose to lead me astray. In Jesus Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:Read Romans Chapter 1
Note: Click on link to listen to The Motions by artist Matthew West. Turn up your speakers.
http://youtu.be/qaHmiFaX_pk
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
THY KINGDOM COME
When you say the Lord's prayer do you ever give much thought to the part when you say "thy kingdom come, thy will be done?" At times when you are enduring junk in your life you probably wish the kingdom would hurry up and come.
The kingdom is what we are waiting for when Jesus returns to take us to be in glory. We should try to have that kingdom here on the earth. So much corruption is occurring on earth today if we do not turn back to God and obey his laws as found in the Bible the kingdom may be here before we know it. It is something to look forward to. Let's look at this prayer in it's entirety.
The Lord's Prayer is one of the most commonly memorized prayers of all time. It is found in Matthew 6:19-23 and it says " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Say the prayer out loud to yourself in a 'non church' setting and think about what the words mean. I will paraphrase it in the 'Becky version' meaning no disrespect. "Hey daddy up in heaven. Your name is above all names and so great!! I am anxious for your kingdom to come as it is going to be so neat to live in a land without sin. Things have to happen here on the earth before you do decide to return so have your own way Lord and keep us patient and protect us while we wait. Thank you for providing enough food each day to sustain me. Sometimes I am not very grateful for it. Sorry. Forgive me when I have hurt or offended someone. I want to be more Christlike. My desire is to forgive all people. I know when I am tempted to do wrong it is not from you and you have a way to escape if I would only read the Bible and know the truth. Protect us from the attacks of the enemy who is roaming around like a lion seeking who to destroy. Your kingdom is awesome, powerful and wonderful and has no end. Amen!"
Romans 14:17 says "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Are you experiencing true joy in your life? Are you peaceful? God can give you his joy and peace here on earth while you wait for the heavenly kingdom if only you would ask Him. Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Turn those difficult areas of your life over to Him and keep trusting and praying.
Why not let God be in the drivers seat so you can experience his true peace and joy and his kingdom here on earth?
PRAYER: Lord I want to do what pleases you. Many times I think I have given you the controls and let you handle things but I start stressing and freaking out and obviously have not given you total control. I want you to have total control Lord and I do not want the devil to gain a foothold in my life. I resist Him and want to walk with you. In Jesus Name, Amen!
The kingdom is what we are waiting for when Jesus returns to take us to be in glory. We should try to have that kingdom here on the earth. So much corruption is occurring on earth today if we do not turn back to God and obey his laws as found in the Bible the kingdom may be here before we know it. It is something to look forward to. Let's look at this prayer in it's entirety.
The Lord's Prayer is one of the most commonly memorized prayers of all time. It is found in Matthew 6:19-23 and it says " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Say the prayer out loud to yourself in a 'non church' setting and think about what the words mean. I will paraphrase it in the 'Becky version' meaning no disrespect. "Hey daddy up in heaven. Your name is above all names and so great!! I am anxious for your kingdom to come as it is going to be so neat to live in a land without sin. Things have to happen here on the earth before you do decide to return so have your own way Lord and keep us patient and protect us while we wait. Thank you for providing enough food each day to sustain me. Sometimes I am not very grateful for it. Sorry. Forgive me when I have hurt or offended someone. I want to be more Christlike. My desire is to forgive all people. I know when I am tempted to do wrong it is not from you and you have a way to escape if I would only read the Bible and know the truth. Protect us from the attacks of the enemy who is roaming around like a lion seeking who to destroy. Your kingdom is awesome, powerful and wonderful and has no end. Amen!"
Romans 14:17 says "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Are you experiencing true joy in your life? Are you peaceful? God can give you his joy and peace here on earth while you wait for the heavenly kingdom if only you would ask Him. Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Turn those difficult areas of your life over to Him and keep trusting and praying.
Why not let God be in the drivers seat so you can experience his true peace and joy and his kingdom here on earth?
PRAYER: Lord I want to do what pleases you. Many times I think I have given you the controls and let you handle things but I start stressing and freaking out and obviously have not given you total control. I want you to have total control Lord and I do not want the devil to gain a foothold in my life. I resist Him and want to walk with you. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Monday, October 3, 2011
ARGUE! WHO ME?
How do you end arguments if they come up? Usually the best way is if you are you wrong to admit it and if you are not wrong and other person keeps fighting to just talk peacefully and calmly. Satan loves if it he can get people disagreeing and bickering and loves to cause arguments, in families especially. The home is supposed to be a joyful haven and it can be! When a disagreement occurs it is usually over something really minor and can get blown all out of proportion. It is best to recognize first our battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan. John 10:10 says "Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy".
So many fights and people whose marriages broke up probably could have been avoided if they would have remembered that a soft answer turns away wrath(See Proverbs 15:1),do not keep a record of wrongs(1 Corinthians 15:5) and be able to say "I am sorry". If some one does not do this the battle rages on. There are families who have feuds over something that could be ended if they would come together, talk, and pray. You have to keep Christ in the center of relationships. James 1:20 says " for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." It is impossible to lead a righteous life if we are angry and bitter.
How does an argument occur in the first place? Usually by a misunderstood or misspoken word. James chapter 3 warns of the dangers of the tongue. It is full of deadly poison unless controlled by the Holy Spirit. Anger sometimes also causes some people to spew forth cuss words. This should never happen. James 3:9-11 says "with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?"
Psalm 101:2 says "I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home where I long to act as I should." Ephesians 4:26 says "And do not sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." Going to bed mad is not a good thing and you probably will not sleep anyway.
If people argued at work like some of them do at home they would be fired. Why is it easy to fight with those closest to us? It does not have to even happen. Make up your mind as a married couple you will not allow it to happen. Someone has to be able to put little brush fires out before they burn down the forest,in other words. To keep love alive you have to keep kindness, gentleness, respect, and the ability to forgive and forget alive. Have true unconditional genuine love. If you are reading this and have been quarreling and do not feel that love ask God to restore it. Newlyweds reading this have the chance to stay in the word of God together, pray together and not let divisions ever begin. Learn to blow things off. Learn to laugh.
If only people would get out the word of God and follow it but some would say "oh do not go getting religious on me and shoving the Bible down my throat!". Well guess what? Therein lie the answers and solutions to most of life's issues and problems. The devil will do anything he can to keep you from wanting to read it. Satan would rather keep you mad and holding grudges. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:29 "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." 2 Timothy 2:23 says "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." James 4:1 says "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?"
The Bible indeed has lots to say about fighting and quarrels. Try getting out your Bible and reading 1 Corinthians 13 each night for at least a week. Ask God to change your attitude if there is someone you are mad at or have had issues with. God can transform you and your hard heart if only you will ask Him. Replace anger with joy and a peaceful spirit. It is possible!!
PRAYER: Lord I do want to act like a Christian in all that I say and do. Forgive me for any anger or wrong thoughts I may have and help me to let go of anything inside of me that wants to stir up strife. I want to walk in peace and harmony and not give Satan a foothold. In Jesus name, Amen.
So many fights and people whose marriages broke up probably could have been avoided if they would have remembered that a soft answer turns away wrath(See Proverbs 15:1),do not keep a record of wrongs(1 Corinthians 15:5) and be able to say "I am sorry". If some one does not do this the battle rages on. There are families who have feuds over something that could be ended if they would come together, talk, and pray. You have to keep Christ in the center of relationships. James 1:20 says " for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." It is impossible to lead a righteous life if we are angry and bitter.
How does an argument occur in the first place? Usually by a misunderstood or misspoken word. James chapter 3 warns of the dangers of the tongue. It is full of deadly poison unless controlled by the Holy Spirit. Anger sometimes also causes some people to spew forth cuss words. This should never happen. James 3:9-11 says "with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?"
Psalm 101:2 says "I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home where I long to act as I should." Ephesians 4:26 says "And do not sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." Going to bed mad is not a good thing and you probably will not sleep anyway.
If people argued at work like some of them do at home they would be fired. Why is it easy to fight with those closest to us? It does not have to even happen. Make up your mind as a married couple you will not allow it to happen. Someone has to be able to put little brush fires out before they burn down the forest,in other words. To keep love alive you have to keep kindness, gentleness, respect, and the ability to forgive and forget alive. Have true unconditional genuine love. If you are reading this and have been quarreling and do not feel that love ask God to restore it. Newlyweds reading this have the chance to stay in the word of God together, pray together and not let divisions ever begin. Learn to blow things off. Learn to laugh.
If only people would get out the word of God and follow it but some would say "oh do not go getting religious on me and shoving the Bible down my throat!". Well guess what? Therein lie the answers and solutions to most of life's issues and problems. The devil will do anything he can to keep you from wanting to read it. Satan would rather keep you mad and holding grudges. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:29 "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." 2 Timothy 2:23 says "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." James 4:1 says "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?"
The Bible indeed has lots to say about fighting and quarrels. Try getting out your Bible and reading 1 Corinthians 13 each night for at least a week. Ask God to change your attitude if there is someone you are mad at or have had issues with. God can transform you and your hard heart if only you will ask Him. Replace anger with joy and a peaceful spirit. It is possible!!
PRAYER: Lord I do want to act like a Christian in all that I say and do. Forgive me for any anger or wrong thoughts I may have and help me to let go of anything inside of me that wants to stir up strife. I want to walk in peace and harmony and not give Satan a foothold. In Jesus name, Amen.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Update..Note from writer
As of 6 Oct 2011 I would have been on this blogging journey one year. Thanks to the Courage to Write retreat I attended in Arizona last 1-3 Oct 2010 for giving me the encouragement to get going on this and thanks to Denise Carter for suggesting I write a daily devotion on line even before I attended the retreat. In counting, I somehow missed the 365 day mark by 3 days. Not sure how that happened exactly as I remember writing each day. Oh well. Perhaps I filed them before posting them. Added an extra in November 2011, shorted December by 2 and short one in July. I appreciate everyone of you, both friends, friends of friends and strangers who reads my blog daily. It means alot to me. I will continue this journey, counting a little better perhaps as I go beyond 6 Oct 2011 and hope to be soon developing a manuscript using about 100 of my posts for publication. I would appreciate prayers on this journey. Once again thank you for being faithful in reading each and every day. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. God's Blessings to each of you. Love...Becky J Miller
BLESS OTHERS
Several years ago I commented on a co workers' big beautiful red apple that was in their lunch box as a few of us gathered at Ft Knox to eat lunch. This person says to me, "Here take it!" I said" I can not take that, it is yours." The person replies "if you do not take this you are denying me a blessing." I have never forgotten that.
When you share what God has blessed you with you are truly blessing the other person. Everything we have is from Him anyway. James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." In Luke 6:38 it says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Do you have food you could share with someone hungry? Does a friend need to borrow a car and you have a spare? Some people are blessed with an 'extra vehicle'. Perhaps you own a camera and a friend does not so you loan yours to them to use for a special event. Do you have lots of coats in your closet and you know someone who needs one? Why not share? Don't be stingy. All this belongs to God. He is the one who has blessed us with the ability to gain wealth. We are only stewards of it here on earth. Maybe you have a extra sofa you are not using in your garage that is in good shape and someone needs one. Consider donating it and 'blessing' them. Once you start loaning things or giving things away it makes you feel good.
I just love 'Extreme Home Makeover' on TV where a family, in some sort of need, is given a brand new mortgage free home usually donated by a local builder. The recipients are crying and shouting "oh my gosh" after the crowd shouts "move that bus!" to reveal the finished product. A brand new home would be a fantastic blessing for a family!
Sometimes human nature makes it hard to part with our 'stuff' especially if it is of high monetary value. God's nature says to share. Here in the Madison County, Alabama a local Christian radio station, WAY Fm, has something they call 'The Drive Thru Difference' where you pay for the car behind you at the drive thru and hand the clerk a note, unsigned, that says " I just paid for you no strings attached just because", or something to that effect. The person who receives this may be having a horrible day and God spoke to you maybe and said "why not pay for that guy behind you?" How cool is that to be able to bless that way and to get that blessing?
Proverbs 19:17 says " He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." The person may not be literally poor but have a need at the time that you are able to meet. Don't hoard your blessings and don't just give old worn out stuff you would not want. A church youth group out in Arizona was having a lock in one night and was told to bring canned goods for the local food shelter. Some teens brought things they did not like from home such as succotash, creamed corn, canned tomatoes, and other items. What happened, I was told, is that it was time to eat and as a teaching point whatever the young person had brought to donate, they ate that night. So those with cans of beef stew, good soup, tuna, and other good things were okay but the succotash was not a real treat. The point was learned by the teens that evening I would venture to say.
Are you able to bless someone? What is stopping you? You never know how your kindness will affect someones life.
PRAYER: Lord help me find ways to be a blessing to those people in my life and to strangers as well. Give me a generous and content spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!
When you share what God has blessed you with you are truly blessing the other person. Everything we have is from Him anyway. James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." In Luke 6:38 it says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Do you have food you could share with someone hungry? Does a friend need to borrow a car and you have a spare? Some people are blessed with an 'extra vehicle'. Perhaps you own a camera and a friend does not so you loan yours to them to use for a special event. Do you have lots of coats in your closet and you know someone who needs one? Why not share? Don't be stingy. All this belongs to God. He is the one who has blessed us with the ability to gain wealth. We are only stewards of it here on earth. Maybe you have a extra sofa you are not using in your garage that is in good shape and someone needs one. Consider donating it and 'blessing' them. Once you start loaning things or giving things away it makes you feel good.
I just love 'Extreme Home Makeover' on TV where a family, in some sort of need, is given a brand new mortgage free home usually donated by a local builder. The recipients are crying and shouting "oh my gosh" after the crowd shouts "move that bus!" to reveal the finished product. A brand new home would be a fantastic blessing for a family!
Sometimes human nature makes it hard to part with our 'stuff' especially if it is of high monetary value. God's nature says to share. Here in the Madison County, Alabama a local Christian radio station, WAY Fm, has something they call 'The Drive Thru Difference' where you pay for the car behind you at the drive thru and hand the clerk a note, unsigned, that says " I just paid for you no strings attached just because", or something to that effect. The person who receives this may be having a horrible day and God spoke to you maybe and said "why not pay for that guy behind you?" How cool is that to be able to bless that way and to get that blessing?
Proverbs 19:17 says " He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." The person may not be literally poor but have a need at the time that you are able to meet. Don't hoard your blessings and don't just give old worn out stuff you would not want. A church youth group out in Arizona was having a lock in one night and was told to bring canned goods for the local food shelter. Some teens brought things they did not like from home such as succotash, creamed corn, canned tomatoes, and other items. What happened, I was told, is that it was time to eat and as a teaching point whatever the young person had brought to donate, they ate that night. So those with cans of beef stew, good soup, tuna, and other good things were okay but the succotash was not a real treat. The point was learned by the teens that evening I would venture to say.
Are you able to bless someone? What is stopping you? You never know how your kindness will affect someones life.
PRAYER: Lord help me find ways to be a blessing to those people in my life and to strangers as well. Give me a generous and content spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!
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