My Own Eye

TODAY’S VERSE
And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I don’t agree with everything Freud wrote. There is, however, one of his observations that I think has some truth to it. Freud wrote about “projection,” the action of pointing out faults in others that we have our self.” Have you ever caught yourself criticizing someone and suddenly realize that you exhibit the same behavior? Jesus warned us about pointing out other people’s faults and ignoring our own. He said not to point out the little failings in other people while we have huge issues to deal with in our own life. He mastered the use of hyperbole with the comparison of a speck in another person’s eye while we have this huge beam in our own. How funny this must have sounded to His audience, yet how true! We so often take offense at other’s shortcomings when we have glaring inconsistencies in our own life. Today, let us examine our self. Let us come before God and ask Him to point out our own “sins” and deal with them before we worry about someone else’s behavior.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for judging others. Help me to bring myself to you and allow Your Holy Spirit to work on my behavior. Lord, make me more like You.
AMEN

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Love Others

TODAY’S VERSE
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples.
Matthew 9:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So often we forget that God loves all of mankind. Jesus came and exemplified this. We get so caught up in our Churches, small groups and Bible studies that we can’t remember how to relate to everyday normal people. Jesus expects us to be good neighbors. He desires that we share His love with those that don’t know what it is like. The Pharisees did not get it. They were offended that He ate with “sinners.” In response to their disdain, Jesus said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” There are people all around us in need. Broken hearts, addictions, depressed, lonely, angry, poor, hungry. Wonderful people needing someone to stop and show mercy and love. Someone to invite them in and eat with them. Someone to be their friend. God has called you and me to be that someone. Today let Jesus love someone through you. Look around and ask God who He wants you to befriend.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love and mercy in my life. Help me go and give the same to others. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Everlasting Love

TODAY’S VERSE
Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is hard to accept God’s love. We are taught from a young child to do good. If we do good, if we get good grades, make sports teams we will be liked by people. It sets us up to believe that love is “earned,” not given freely. Worst, some learn that love can be taken away. Is it a wonder that the love of God gets lost in the translation? In his book “The Deeper Journey”, author M. Robert Mulholland Jr. writes, “We fear that we might not be valued. If our false self’s identity is rooted in our performance, then our value must necessarily be rooted in how well we perform. Consequently, our false self attempts to perfect our performance, at least in our own estimation.” Is this not where fear and anger rise up amongst us? We are afraid that someone else’s success will rob us of value. Does not anger rise up inside us when we find something getting in the way of what we think we must have or do in order to be appreciated and loved? Instead, God has told us Himself that He has loved us with an everlasting and unfailing love. Everlasting in that it never ends. It is unquenchable, unconditional, and undeserving. It is unfailing because nothing will stop it from reaching its objective. We are the object of God’s love and nothing will stand in the way of Him expressing that love to us. So today, rejoice in the love that God has for you. You don’t have to earn it! Let the joy of His undying love for you cast away all of your fear and anger.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You that I am valued and loved. Thank You that I do not have to earn it. Help me today to really get my thoughts around Your unconditional love for me. it.
AMEN

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Forgiveness

TODAY’S VERSE
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins.
Psalms 103:2-3 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a beautiful plan. God creates us for fellowship with Him. Like Adam and Eve, God allows us a free will so we can choose to love Him and follow His ways. All the while God knows that He has created us with a human condition that tempts us to stray from Him and His Holy standard. Yet because of His unconditional love for us, He is able to forgive every transgression through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross. John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Today, confess anything that is between you and God. Get your conscience clear with Him. When you do, God promises to forgive.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit that convicts me of things that are wrong in my life. Thank You for Jesus Christ who took my place on the cross. Guide me today and help clear my conscience with You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Self-Compassion

TODAY’S VERSE
The Lord does not ignore me or belittle me when I come to Him suffering and am needy. He never turns His back on me. Instead, He listens to my cry for help!
Psalm 22:24

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We need to rebuild our concept of ourselves. Because God is compassionate toward us, we also need to learn to be compassionate toward ourselves. But beware—self-compassion is not easy for someone who is shame-based. It is difficult to grasp the concept, but it can be done. It takes practice. It takes self-awareness, intentional correction of our negative thinking, and consistent intake of affirmations to keep us in the practice of thinking about ourselves in completely new ways. We can’t just say it. We must drive it deeply into our psyches so that we feel it. Our body and emotions need to become believers. We need to come against the lies about ourselves; we need to resist the emotional triggers that will cause us to slip back into shame, thinking about what we should have done and self-loathing. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and fellowship with other believers to truly grasp and practice the new reality. Today, love yourself the way God loves you. Walk in that freedom.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father God, thank you for your love and compassion toward me. Help me be compassionate toward myself the way You are. Help me love myself so I, in turn, can love You and others from a truly joyful heart. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

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Are You Shining THe Light?

TODAY’S VERSE
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Matthew 5:14-15

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What is the purpose of light? It is to invade the darkness. That’s right. We often fear that darkness is going to overcome us but the truth is darkness does not have power. It does not attack us. Darkness can only happen when there is an absence of light. So, what have we done with the light that God has given us? Do we put it on the hill so all can see? Do we go to the darkest places we can find and let the light of love and the gospel shine forth? No. Instead, we build our own islands of light, good for us but no others. We build our fortress in order to keep the darkness out when in truth there is enough light for everyone. We could prevent the darkness but we have hoarded the light. Might we hear God’s call – be GIVERS of the light! Rise up, use your spiritual gifts – give away the light – invade the world’s darkness. Today, give away hope, peace, love, joy, and God’s good news – GIVE AWAY THE LIGHT!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Oh, Father, Maker of Light, You have invaded my dark heart, but I am guilty of hoarding it. Forgive me. Help me to invade the darkness and give away Your light. Might all around be delivered from darkness!
AMEN

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We Need To Walk The Talk

TODAY’S VERSE
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
James 2:14-18

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a world in such need, but we are so busy we don’t see it. We are so inwardly focused, so concerned about our own welfare, we don’t stop to help others. That is not the way of Christ! Our churches should be making huge differences in our communities, but we don’t. Often we are trying to be the best church in the community. But the author, Eric Swanson challenges us and says that instead, we should try to be the best church for and with the community. That is Christ’s way. When will this change? It can change TODAY if you and I decide to do something. Today, we can make a difference in someone’s life if we just open our eyes and hearts. We can encourage others in our church to make a difference. May God help us to “walk our talk.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me see other peoples’ needs with Your eyes. Bring someone into my life today who needs help. Give me the mercy to stop, the wisdom to know what to do and then the love to do it. Thank You, God, for all You have done for me; help me do for others.
AMEN

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