Live the Life!

Live the Life

“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

(Mark 10 vs. 43&44)

Spiritual growth is an important part of living a peaceful and rewarding life. Defining it is sometimes difficult. It is more than reading a passage, it is living the life. It is climbing the Christian ladder of success. Not running around preaching, it is demonstrating the lifestyle.  In the above passage Mark mentions greatness and to be great, one must be at peace. This peace can be found by walking the walk; Serving others as a lifestyle.

            Television Evangelist Mac Hammond defined serving others as "...meeting another person's needs when they do not believe you are serving them".

Thought for Today: Today let’s reach out and help someone in need. Let’s serve their every need.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today we feel the need to help. We pray that we recognize those in need that you have placed before us. We thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Amen

Always Be Joyful

Always Be Joyful

"Always be joyful. Keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful,
for this is God's will for you who belong to Jesus Christ.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15-16)

            When writing during a summer sunrise, it is cool, clear and the view from our balcony is beautiful and serene. There is no difficulty being joyful and praying. It is a great moment, but.

            This month has been a challenge in our world- Racial and financial inequities are being protested, the pandemic seems to be accelerating and last evening severe weather was rampant! But today is the first day of the rest of our lives and we need to rejoice in it.

            Out of adversity comes greatness. Today there are hundreds of beautiful people volunteering to help in the cities that lost buildings in riots; more are collecting and distributing food for the unemployed due to the pandemic; many are simply praying for love to prevail and bring joy!

            In summary life is not always great and it is sometimes difficult to “Always be joyful” but we can always “Keep on praying”.

Bless you, all.

Thought for Today: Let’s find a way to enjoy life despite the challenges. Let us recognize the challenges will make us stronger and that the Lord will see us through.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord today we thank you for the joy in our lives and the ability to sustain it in hard times through prayer. Amen

Consequences

00719 Consequences

"Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification."

(Romans 14:19)

            Yes, we are beating on the same drum. That is because it is an important drum to beat; not for those we call “Them” but for us. The term “network” became popular in the 1980s and generally referred to business relationships and started as a business terminology. It has grown.

            The internet has created more formal systems of business and social networks. In a social network people are called friends and I like that. In my Friends list of over 200 or so people, my grandparents would exclude over half my friends. That is half the opportunities to learn, enjoy, assist, and help. It would be sad!

            We each have a right to form our groups and decide what to say and who to share it with. An example, Christian Friends and God is my Spinach have been viewed in over 160 countries around the world and supports people; not just Christians. It is a humble effort for “peace and edification”. 

            My point is that the exclusionary attitudes taught in the 1950s are a deep-rooted problem. When we exclude others we are the losers! Paul closed with the term “…mutual edification." And we lose that when we exclude.

Thought for Today: Today extend our Christian love to everyone we meet and not exclude anyone!

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the Grace of Jesus and the forgiveness of or faith. We have not been perfect in our treatment of others. Today I pray for the gift of love and that I may accept and love everyone.  Amen

Independence, Freedom!

Independence Day

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

(Galatians 5:1)

                Independence is what makes America great and our many freedoms make this a great place to live. Our constitution is based on our ability to self govern. Below is a quote from Abraham Lincoln about our system.

“This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.”

Pray for the future of America!

Thought for Today: Today let’s celebrate our independence by obeying the Lord’s commandments.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our country celebrates its independence. Our freedoms are based on your laws and our abilities to obey them. Today we pray for spiritual growth, honesty, integrity, and ethics.

Amen