“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 NIV).
As we think of the Christmas season ahead we naturally think of gifts, but the greatest gift given to us is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is up to us to accept this wonderful gift and live for Him. After we have received God’s gift of salvation, striving to please the Lord in every area of our lives is so important. During this season many people give to the poor and perform acts of service to help others. Being a servant of God is so important and during this season there will be ample opportunities to show God’s love. Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians what benefits service to others can bring. “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor. 9:12-13 NIV). People who are touched by our kindness may be compelled to ask us why we are helping them. It is an opportunity to tell them about God’s wonderful grace and His love for them. This service for others should not stop at Christmas, but we should be helping others every opportunity we get all through the year.
Dear Lord,
Help us during this Christmas season to show your love by helping others.We know that the Christmas season gives us many opportunities to serve others, but help us also to serve you by giving to others all throughout the year. As we do this let us be a witness of Christ’s love to everyone we have contact with so that they will see Christ in us and be blessed by our unselfish service.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Give Thanks By Ann Elaine Broughton
“Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV).
How thankful are you for all the blessings you have in your life? Do you thank God daily for His love for you? This is the season to give thanks and to remember all the blessings in your life. But every day should be a time to give thanks to God. If you are like me, you start your prayers with all your requests concerning your loved ones. I have decided to make a list since I have a tendency to forget these days. But I am also going to make a list of blessings. Too many times it is easy to dwell on the needs so much that we don’t focus on what God has done for us. I think it is important for us to take time each day to be thankful. When you feel really down, take out a piece of paper and start writing down the things you are thankful for. If you have a roof over your head and food to eat, then you are very fortunate since many people in the world don’t have a home or food.
Take Paul and Silas as an example of praising God even in dire circumstances. They were thrown into prison because they were preaching about Jesus. They were severely flogged and beaten before they were thrown into prison. They prayed and sang hymns to God and God heard them. There was an earthquake and the prison doors opened and the prisoner’s chains came loose. They remained there and were able to witness to the jailor, who was baptized along with his family. Amazing isn’t it? Could you have been praising God in that circumstance? It is something to think about since many Christians today in foreign countries are in prison. We should be thankful that we can worship God freely without the fear of being thrown into prison.
This Thanksgiving take time to make your list of blessings and give the Lord sincere thanks for all He has done for you.
Dear Lord,
We take our blessings for granted every day. Help us to be more thankful every day for all you have done for us. Help us to remember all you did for us in the past, especially when it seems like there is no hope in the present. We know you will never forsake us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
How thankful are you for all the blessings you have in your life? Do you thank God daily for His love for you? This is the season to give thanks and to remember all the blessings in your life. But every day should be a time to give thanks to God. If you are like me, you start your prayers with all your requests concerning your loved ones. I have decided to make a list since I have a tendency to forget these days. But I am also going to make a list of blessings. Too many times it is easy to dwell on the needs so much that we don’t focus on what God has done for us. I think it is important for us to take time each day to be thankful. When you feel really down, take out a piece of paper and start writing down the things you are thankful for. If you have a roof over your head and food to eat, then you are very fortunate since many people in the world don’t have a home or food.
Take Paul and Silas as an example of praising God even in dire circumstances. They were thrown into prison because they were preaching about Jesus. They were severely flogged and beaten before they were thrown into prison. They prayed and sang hymns to God and God heard them. There was an earthquake and the prison doors opened and the prisoner’s chains came loose. They remained there and were able to witness to the jailor, who was baptized along with his family. Amazing isn’t it? Could you have been praising God in that circumstance? It is something to think about since many Christians today in foreign countries are in prison. We should be thankful that we can worship God freely without the fear of being thrown into prison.
This Thanksgiving take time to make your list of blessings and give the Lord sincere thanks for all He has done for you.
Dear Lord,
We take our blessings for granted every day. Help us to be more thankful every day for all you have done for us. Help us to remember all you did for us in the past, especially when it seems like there is no hope in the present. We know you will never forsake us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Monday, November 15, 2010
Be His Servant by Ann Elaine Broughton
“Not so with you, instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20: 26-28 NIV).
How have you been behaving like a servant lately? These words were spoken by Jesus. We are to be servants in this world. There are plenty of opportunities to be a servant.
I would like to tell you a story about a true servant who I didn’t even get the privilege of thanking. One day I went to Krogers with a twenty dollar bill in my hand. I grabbed hold of the cart with the bill still in my hand. As I went through the store I misplaced the bill. When I got to the counter and couldn’t find my money I went into panic mode. I paid with my debit card, and then went down all the aisles in vain hope that I would find that twenty dollar bill. I was feeling like an idiot. I decided to go to the help desk to see if anyone had turned in a twenty dollar bill. I didn’t have high hopes about it, needless to say. I asked the gentleman and he said that someone had just given him a twenty dollar bill. I felt like whooping and hollering. I got my money back. Then I asked God to bless that person for being honest.
That little act of kindness meant so much to me. There are so many ways you can perform acts of kindness. Help people take groceries out of their cart. Let someone go ahead of you in line. Tell the clerks thank you for what they did for you. They work hard and sometimes get harassed by holiday shoppers. Go the extra mile when someone needs assistance. Take food to those who came home from the hospital. Send greeting cards to encourage people. Start your prayers asking God to help others rather than starting in on a list all about your own woes. Giving to others will make you feel better and it will also make others happier too. Remember you are the servant of God and He needs you to show His love to others.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to focus on me and my problems, but to look for ways to help others this week. There are so many people who need encouragement. Let me be your servant and help those who need your love.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
How have you been behaving like a servant lately? These words were spoken by Jesus. We are to be servants in this world. There are plenty of opportunities to be a servant.
I would like to tell you a story about a true servant who I didn’t even get the privilege of thanking. One day I went to Krogers with a twenty dollar bill in my hand. I grabbed hold of the cart with the bill still in my hand. As I went through the store I misplaced the bill. When I got to the counter and couldn’t find my money I went into panic mode. I paid with my debit card, and then went down all the aisles in vain hope that I would find that twenty dollar bill. I was feeling like an idiot. I decided to go to the help desk to see if anyone had turned in a twenty dollar bill. I didn’t have high hopes about it, needless to say. I asked the gentleman and he said that someone had just given him a twenty dollar bill. I felt like whooping and hollering. I got my money back. Then I asked God to bless that person for being honest.
That little act of kindness meant so much to me. There are so many ways you can perform acts of kindness. Help people take groceries out of their cart. Let someone go ahead of you in line. Tell the clerks thank you for what they did for you. They work hard and sometimes get harassed by holiday shoppers. Go the extra mile when someone needs assistance. Take food to those who came home from the hospital. Send greeting cards to encourage people. Start your prayers asking God to help others rather than starting in on a list all about your own woes. Giving to others will make you feel better and it will also make others happier too. Remember you are the servant of God and He needs you to show His love to others.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to focus on me and my problems, but to look for ways to help others this week. There are so many people who need encouragement. Let me be your servant and help those who need your love.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Love Your Enemies by Ann Elaine Broughton
Love Your Enemies by Ann Elaine Broughton
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19 NIV).
Has someone done something wrong to you? Are you desiring to seek revenge? It is very easy to want harm to come to those who have treated you wrongly, but Jesus said we are to love our enemies.
That is very hard to do, but if Jesus could forgive those who brutally hurt him when he was crucified, we too can forgive those who treat us badly.
There have been times in my life when others have hurt me deeply and I was tempted to really want to get even. I believe it is the nature of all of us to say, “That isn’t fair”. It doesn’t solve anything though to counteract with nastiness to those who treat us unfairly, and let’s face it, life isn’t fair at all. You can expect to have someone wrong you in this life. How you behave at this time will show if you truly are a child of God. You see Christians are to act differently when they are wronged.
Jesus put it this way: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:44 NIV) This is difficult to do, but it isn’t impossible or Jesus wouldn’t have told you to do it. Remember you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you to help you love those who wrong you. Rely on that power and you will be able to do this very thing that seems impossible.
Pray for those who are your enemies and find out that your heart will be changed towards them. I feel sorry for those who are constantly causing trouble. I believe that people who are nasty need our prayers desperately. I can’t imagine going through life always seeing negative in everything. Let your light shine in their lives so that they will see Christ’s love in you. They will wonder at your attitude and might ask you why you are different. That is your chance to show them how the peace of Christ can change their lives. Think of someone this week who needs to have an attitude adjustment and pray for them.
Dear Lord,
Help me to view everyone, even my enemies, through your loving eyes. Help me to be positive around them and not seek revenge. Give me an opportunity to share your love with them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19 NIV).
Has someone done something wrong to you? Are you desiring to seek revenge? It is very easy to want harm to come to those who have treated you wrongly, but Jesus said we are to love our enemies.
That is very hard to do, but if Jesus could forgive those who brutally hurt him when he was crucified, we too can forgive those who treat us badly.
There have been times in my life when others have hurt me deeply and I was tempted to really want to get even. I believe it is the nature of all of us to say, “That isn’t fair”. It doesn’t solve anything though to counteract with nastiness to those who treat us unfairly, and let’s face it, life isn’t fair at all. You can expect to have someone wrong you in this life. How you behave at this time will show if you truly are a child of God. You see Christians are to act differently when they are wronged.
Jesus put it this way: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:44 NIV) This is difficult to do, but it isn’t impossible or Jesus wouldn’t have told you to do it. Remember you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you to help you love those who wrong you. Rely on that power and you will be able to do this very thing that seems impossible.
Pray for those who are your enemies and find out that your heart will be changed towards them. I feel sorry for those who are constantly causing trouble. I believe that people who are nasty need our prayers desperately. I can’t imagine going through life always seeing negative in everything. Let your light shine in their lives so that they will see Christ’s love in you. They will wonder at your attitude and might ask you why you are different. That is your chance to show them how the peace of Christ can change their lives. Think of someone this week who needs to have an attitude adjustment and pray for them.
Dear Lord,
Help me to view everyone, even my enemies, through your loving eyes. Help me to be positive around them and not seek revenge. Give me an opportunity to share your love with them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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