Make Me A Blessing

TODAY’S VERSE
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So many times we wonder what is required of us. Others ask, “What would Jesus do?” And then we take a look at the life that Jesus lived. His was a selfless pouring out of Himself for others. Paul writes the Galatians a letter and toward the end of it he writes this simple command, “Share each other’s burdens.” How profound is that? God doesn’t make a bunch of demands on us. Simply to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbor as we do ourself. So today as you go about your business, ask God who He wants you to help. Ask Him to help you share in someone else’s burden and assist them in anyway you can. If you do, He will lead, He will provide, He will work through you to bless that person in need.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
“Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray, make me a blessing to someone today.”
AMEN

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Go And Do The Same

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. – Now go and do the same.”
Luke 10:33-34, 37 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes we make Christianity way too complicated. Jesus illustrated the essence of following Him through this simple story. He told of a Jewish man who was robbed, beaten and left by the side of the road. Now Jesus was not impressed with the Jewish leadership of the day. He did not care for their portrayal of Holiness. Neither did He like their lack of love for those around them. He used this story to challenge their mentality. In the story Jesus  the first person to come upon the wounded person was a priest. I am sure to everyone’s shock, Jesus said that the priest walked by the wounded man, leaving him there to die. Perhaps filled with spiritual pride, the Priest felt the man was “unclean” and therefore unworthy of help. Next, Jesus said that a Levite walked by the hurting man. Perhaps a reason he walked by the dying man was to stay ceremonial “clean.” He could not defile himself with the bleeding man so he too passed him by. Finally, an enemy of the Jews, a Samaritan, stopped and showed compassion on the hurting and wounded Jew. The point Jesus was trying to illustrate was, “How did following God get so far from what God intended? How did we lose the very heart of God?” If we are to follow Jesus, then we must love those in need that we come in contact with. James writes it this way in James 1:27, “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must take care for orphans and widows in their trouble.” Today, as you walk on your own path to wherever you are going, what will you do for those in need? Let us think of the “good Samaritan” and hear Jesus say, “Go and do the same!”.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me remember the story of the good Samaritan so when I see someone in need today, I will go and do whatever I can to help.
AMEN

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What Is Your Dream?

TODAY’S VERSE
“For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’
Jeremiah 29:11

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Often we are asked, “What is your dream for your life?” It is a legitimate question. We should have a dream. We should have a God- sized vision of our reason for being here. But have you ever considered that God Himself has a dream for your life? We see this in today’s passage. Jeremiah says, “For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the LORD.” In the book “TrueFaced” the authors write, “Ever since we were children we have had dreams and hopes of destiny. Some of these dreams are our own, but others came from the very heart of God – God dreams that you would discover your destiny and walk into the reasons He placed you on this earth.” Jeremiah finishes today’ passage writing about the plans God has for us. He writes, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Now many people take this to mean God desires us to have the American dream of wealth and success. After all, what else does prosper mean? But perhaps “prosper” is not about our accumulation of wealth but the results of what we do with our life. The authors of TrueFaced write, “God’s dreams for you are ultimately not really about you. Oh, don’t misunderstand. They’ll bring you some of the best days of your life; you will be fulfilled beyond any imaginable expectations. But God’s dreams take form only when they are about others, for the benefit of others. Loving them. Guiding them. Serving them. Influencing them. Filling their heads with dreams and hope. There are no other types of God dreams. Nothing less or else will compel, attract, or seem worthy of this God heart within you.” In this respect I pray that God would prosper you to prosper others. I pray that He will give you both a hope and a future so you can give the same to others. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me see the dream You have for my life. Help me dream the same. Take my life. Use it for your glory. Might I prosper in helping others. Might the hope and future You give me be what I in turn give to others. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Compassion

TODAY’S VERSE
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”’
Matthew 9:36-38

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Everyone has a story. Everyone hurts sometime. If not now, wait ten minutes. It is a hurting world. This is what Jesus saw. He saw the crowds, harassed and helpless. He compared them to lost sheep without a shepherd to protect them. And when He saw He had compassion. Why? Because He was God incarnate! God in the flesh. All you have to do, to understand why Jesus reacted the way He did, is to read the Old Testament. God Jehovah had compassion on the poor and needy. Even in Proverbs, Solomon gives us instruction to help those in need. He says we are to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We are to defend the rights of the poor and needy. But you ask, what can I do? I don’t know. All I can say is that I asked God, “What can I do?” and He has given me more than I can handle. It starts with your willing heart. Then it moves to your eyes. Next it moves to your head, then to your hands and feet. If you are willing to be used on behalf of the needy and ask God to help you help others, His love takes over. His compassion will be more than you could ever begin to contain. His miracles on behalf of the needy will be more than you can keep up with. God loves His human race, but He ordained His church to be His hands and feet. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he called his disciples for help. He is still calling! What will you do?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, where do I begin? There are so many needs, so many hurting and dying. But You have me here, where I am right now, so I ask You to use me today, right here, right now, to make a difference in someone’s life. Help me see with Your eyes, love with Your heart and move with Your power. In Jesus’ Name.
AMEN

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Created To Do Good

TODAY’S VERSE
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is amazing to study how the cells in the body all work together in order to survive as an organism. Insects work in hives all working together for the survival of their species. Systems throughout the universe are in motion working in harmony. But then there is mankind. How dysfunctional can we get? We don’t work together for the survival of our own kind. It is every person for their own self. And yet this is not God’s desire. God created humans to exist in a system that has each of us looking out for the interests of others. He created love to be our model of coexistence. As Christians, He created us in Christ to do good works. He prepared us in advance for this great task. God has called each of us to be His ambassador of “good”. This is why we are called the “light on top of the hill” and the “salt of the earth.” But God doesn’t make us do His will. Instead through the Holy Spirit, He reminds us not forget to do good and to share with others. And the world needs good. There are so many weary, hurting, broken, saddened, terrified people all around us. Every family has a story. So today volunteer. Just show up. Let God know that you will be willing to help someone today and then be available. He will lead you, He will guide you to someone who needs your help. And you will be blessed, for there is nothing better than doing what you were created to do. After all, you have been called by God Himself to do good works, which He prepared in advance for you to do!  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I pray that You will open my eyes to all the opportunities to do good around me. I know that You have created me to do good. I know that it is Your desire, yet I need You to guide me. Direct me to someone who needs what I have. Someone who will benefit from the way you have wired me. Guide me, then empower me to do the good that You have prepared in advance for me to do. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Love Others

TODAY’S VERSE
‘“The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”’
Romans 13:9-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We can make following God pretty complicated. It is natural for us to create rules, regulations and standards of behavior so we can measure our progress toward Spirituality. Now God gave us the ten commandments in order to guide the conduct of mankind, but it did not take man long to add hundreds of rules an regulations to them. Today, we have our own. Look a certain way. Listen to certain kinds of music. Exhibit certain acceptable behavior. While there is right and wrong and God does expect us to live holy and righteous, there is a better way, one that covers all the bases. It is love. Jesus came to share the message with the whole world. In Matthew 22:37-39, when asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law?”, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul explains in Roman that the commandments are written to guide our behavior and it can be summed up very simply. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Do you want to know what God wants you to do today? He wants you to love others. Are you wanting to know right from wrong? Love others. Do you know what God’s will is for your life? Love those he brings you in contact with. Today, if tempted with choices between good and bad or right and wrong; choose love. Love never fails.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, You are love! Empower me with Your Holy Spirit. Give me the courage, strength, patience and discipline to love the way You do. Help me love others like I do myself.
AMEN

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Doing Good

TODAY’S VERSE
“This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. – Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.”
Titus 3:8,14

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Doing good to others is very important to God. Paul uses strong language to communicate this point. He uses the words, “insist”, “devote” and “must” when talking about meeting the urgent needs of others. He writes that helping others will keep us from living an unproductive life. There are people all around us with urgent needs. Are we responding? Are we exemplifying the love of Christ to them? God wants us to learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others. Why not start today. Ask God to lead you to someone you can help.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me to see the needs around me. Help me to view others through Your eyes of compassion. Lead me today to someone who needs my help. Give me the wisdom and strength to do all I can to meet their urgent need.
AMEN

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Boast About God’s Love

TODAY’S VERSE
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth.”’
Jeremiah 9:23-24

TODAY’S THOUGHT
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” This is one of the beatitudes that Jesus taught us. God puts a premium on humility. This runs counter to worldly wisdom. In modern society there is a premium put on self reliance. Kudos are given to the person who is a success. With success comes bragging rights. We live for that illusive fifteen minutes of fame. Why? Because we want recognition. We want to feel important and appreciated. So we boast. But God offers a better way. He says not to boast in our wisdom, power or riches, instead we are to boast in the fact that we know Him and understand Him as the Lord. What makes this so ironic is that the very thing that we are looking for, love and acceptance, is found in Jesus Christ. We get to boast in the fact that God loves us with unfailing love. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t have to perform to certain expectations. He loves us unconditionally. So today, rejoice in all that He has done for you. Bless Him for His love for you. Boast in the fact that God is a gracious and loving God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for bragging about my own abilities. Forgive me for  putting such a high importance on my own possessions and accomplishments. Instead, I praise You dear Lord, for Your unfailing love for me. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Jealousy and Selfish Ambition

TODAY’S VERSE
“If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”
James 3:14-16

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.”
James 4:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a plague in our world. At its worst it is the root of wars, poverty, hatred and injustice. In our everyday life it is what causes arguments, hurt feelings, disappointment and ungodly behavior. James calls this plague “jealousy and selfish ambition”. He goes further to call it, “unspiritual and demonic behavior” and assures us that wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and evil of every kind. Now does this mean that it wrong to have ambition? Is it wrong to desire goals? Is it wrong to have nice things? The answer to all three questions is, “No!” Where wrong comes in is when we live our lives independently of God. It is when we make our goals without considering the way He desires us to live that we are susceptible to major discontent. We listen to the world and start to desire fame and fortune. We create goals that we think will lead us to the place we need to be and nothing better get in our way. The cure for jealousy and selfish ambition is to develop a relationship with Christ. Talk to Him. Tell Him about your desires and dreams. Ask Him to show you how you should live. Ask Him to help you create goals that will honor Him. When you do, you can also leave the results to Him. You are already accepted by Him and loved unconditionally. When you really start to believe that, there will be no room in your heart for cheap imitations. There will be no reason for jealousy or selfish ambition.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for taking my eyes off of you and setting up my own kingdom. I know that jealousy and selfish ambition have been prevalent in my life. I renounce these attitudes and ask that You would show me Your will for my life. Help me be content and live a life pleasing to you.
AMEN

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Our True Vocation

TODAY’S VERSE
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him.” Isaiah 58:6-7

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The children of Israel had forgotten that God had them here on this earth to be His representatives, to show people the way to God. They were to love people and share the importance of knowing Jehovah. Instead they thought that they had somehow “deserved” the status that they had as the “Children of God”. They began to act as they were “gods” unto themselves. When God favors us with certain status or vocations we can easily fall into a trap of thinking that we achieved the status and vocation by our own merits. This leads to pride and arrogance. This is what God pointed out to the Israelites. They were fasting and God was not listening to their pomp and circumstance. Instead God wanted equality, justice and love among all people. Bryant Meyers, in his book, “Walking With The Poor” writes,
“When the non-poor play god in the lives of other people, they have stopped being who they truly are and are assuming the role of their true vocation as well. Instead of understanding themselves as productive stewards working for the well-being of their community, they act as if their gifts and position are somehow rightfully theirs, or earned by merit, and hence are solely for themselves and for their well-being.” The prophet Isaiah asked the people, “What is it that God has required of each of us?” He answered with a sobering indictment, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him.” Most of us live such a privileged life. Let’s do all we can to give back to those in need.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, you take the plight of the poor seriously. You hate injustice and love mercy. Help me to love others the way you do. Help me live my true calling, as a productive steward working for the well-being of others in need. Show me today Lord how I can make a difference in the lives of others.
AMEN

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