“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
Sunday, November 21, 2010
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
Sunday, October 31, 2010
God's Power is In You by Ann Elaine Broughton
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).
How often do you realize what wonderful power you have available to you through Jesus Christ? He is able to do things through you that you could never do by yourself. It is amazing, this power that the Holy Spirit inside you can produce. But most of us are blind to this power because we like to do it ourselves. We smugly say that we don’t need any help because we have the ability without God’s help. Then we stumble and fall and beg God to help us. Wouldn’t it be much easier to rely on His power in us first? Think about it. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. We can’t even think about all the ways God can work in us if we allow Him to do it.
Doubts can creep in and questions haunt us. What if I fail? What if people don’t support me? Satan loves to throw out these questions in order to make you feel helpless. Don’t believe the lies. You are a child of the king. You can do all things through His strength. Believe it and claim it. The power is there for you to grab hold of and jump into whatever God is calling you to do. Get out of your comfort zone and do something for God that is so big that only He can do it. You have His power. Do something with it.
We have gone to Niagra Falls many times. I was amazed to see the power of the falls. All that water cascading and thundering down upon the rocks. That power was harnessed and used to produce electricity for many people. Someone had the fortitude to do this. Isn’t it amazing that they could produce power from water? Can you imagine that?
Just as that power from water was harnessed so you must harness the power within you by God to do something amazing for Him. It is time for you to make a difference.
Dear Lord,
I know that your power exists in me. Help me to step out in faith and use that power to do your will. I know that you will help me overcome doubts. Thank you for giving me the power that only you can give.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
How often do you realize what wonderful power you have available to you through Jesus Christ? He is able to do things through you that you could never do by yourself. It is amazing, this power that the Holy Spirit inside you can produce. But most of us are blind to this power because we like to do it ourselves. We smugly say that we don’t need any help because we have the ability without God’s help. Then we stumble and fall and beg God to help us. Wouldn’t it be much easier to rely on His power in us first? Think about it. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. We can’t even think about all the ways God can work in us if we allow Him to do it.
Doubts can creep in and questions haunt us. What if I fail? What if people don’t support me? Satan loves to throw out these questions in order to make you feel helpless. Don’t believe the lies. You are a child of the king. You can do all things through His strength. Believe it and claim it. The power is there for you to grab hold of and jump into whatever God is calling you to do. Get out of your comfort zone and do something for God that is so big that only He can do it. You have His power. Do something with it.
We have gone to Niagra Falls many times. I was amazed to see the power of the falls. All that water cascading and thundering down upon the rocks. That power was harnessed and used to produce electricity for many people. Someone had the fortitude to do this. Isn’t it amazing that they could produce power from water? Can you imagine that?
Just as that power from water was harnessed so you must harness the power within you by God to do something amazing for Him. It is time for you to make a difference.
Dear Lord,
I know that your power exists in me. Help me to step out in faith and use that power to do your will. I know that you will help me overcome doubts. Thank you for giving me the power that only you can give.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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