It's Best Coming From You
“You should know by now what I want.” “What am I a mind reader?” “I want the pain to go away, but I feel it will never leave me.”
There are things we feel that should seem obvious to others. Say them out loud, set them free, so that anyone listening will know how to help. God knows what you want. But he wants to hear it from you.
Inspired by Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the bind man, saying to him, Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Brothers & Sisters In Christ
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I Believe In You
I Believe in You
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” “Stop blowing smoke up my %#*@!” “How can I trust you, when all you’ve done is lied?”
Everybody makes mistakes. Some small, some grave. But what if a person only heard negative all his life and you were the first person to believe in the new him. Give people a chance to prove themselves. Offer encouraging words and stick with them until you r-e-a-l-l-y believe your support is useless. Even then, don’t close the door to the possibility of change. You may be that light of hope that allows them to turn their lives around. God never gives up on you!
Inspired by Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said, “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” “Stop blowing smoke up my %#*@!” “How can I trust you, when all you’ve done is lied?”
Everybody makes mistakes. Some small, some grave. But what if a person only heard negative all his life and you were the first person to believe in the new him. Give people a chance to prove themselves. Offer encouraging words and stick with them until you r-e-a-l-l-y believe your support is useless. Even then, don’t close the door to the possibility of change. You may be that light of hope that allows them to turn their lives around. God never gives up on you!
Inspired by Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said, “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
Set Your Sight High
Set Your Sight High
I didn’t disappoint you. I stood up for righteousness.” “I worked my behind off and I didn’t get the job. But I met you.” “I had the grades, but didn’t make it into the school. I know now this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Life will disappoint us. God will never. Your life will know the magnificence of God when you look higher than your own aspirations.
Inspired by Mark 10:28-30
Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
I didn’t disappoint you. I stood up for righteousness.” “I worked my behind off and I didn’t get the job. But I met you.” “I had the grades, but didn’t make it into the school. I know now this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Life will disappoint us. God will never. Your life will know the magnificence of God when you look higher than your own aspirations.
Inspired by Mark 10:28-30
Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
Work In Progress
Work in Progress
“Look I know what’s best for me. And you people are standing in my way.” “I don’t need your help. I can do this alone.”
Welcome help and take note when you keep bumping your head against walls or people. Insightful messages and wondrous signs of God are revealed at every turn. God is good. And you are a good work in progress.
Inspired by Ecclesiasticus 36:1, 15-17
Take pity on us, Master, Lord of the universe, look at us, spread fear of yourself throughout all other nations. Give those who wait for you their reward, let your prophets be proved true. Grant, Lord, the prayer of your servants, in the terms of Aaron’s blessing on your people, so that all the earth’s inhabitants may acknowledge that you are the Lord, the everlasting God.
“Look I know what’s best for me. And you people are standing in my way.” “I don’t need your help. I can do this alone.”
Welcome help and take note when you keep bumping your head against walls or people. Insightful messages and wondrous signs of God are revealed at every turn. God is good. And you are a good work in progress.
Inspired by Ecclesiasticus 36:1, 15-17
Take pity on us, Master, Lord of the universe, look at us, spread fear of yourself throughout all other nations. Give those who wait for you their reward, let your prophets be proved true. Grant, Lord, the prayer of your servants, in the terms of Aaron’s blessing on your people, so that all the earth’s inhabitants may acknowledge that you are the Lord, the everlasting God.
Step It Up
Step It Up
“Why did you give it away? I could have used it.” “I didn’t drive anymore, so I gave my car to the neighbor.” “I know I could have charged them, but it felt good just to give.”
Go beyond your safe walls. Dare your typical response and get to know selflessness. Step into a life that drizzles kindnesses and sprinkles generosity everywhere you go.
Inspired by Mark 10:17-23.
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
“Why did you give it away? I could have used it.” “I didn’t drive anymore, so I gave my car to the neighbor.” “I know I could have charged them, but it felt good just to give.”
Go beyond your safe walls. Dare your typical response and get to know selflessness. Step into a life that drizzles kindnesses and sprinkles generosity everywhere you go.
Inspired by Mark 10:17-23.
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
A Priceless Friend
A Priceless Friend
“Who needs enemies when you have friends like that.” “Why do you let them take advantage of you?” “They' re not your friends, they are leeches.”
God loving people are faithful friends. Nurture your true friends for they are necessary to promoting the wellness of life and increasing God’s message of love. Be a priceless friend!
Inspired by Ecclesiasticus 6:5-6, 14-17
Pleasant speech multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiples courtesies. Let those who are friendly with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand. Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them. Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so as their neighbors also.
“Who needs enemies when you have friends like that.” “Why do you let them take advantage of you?” “They' re not your friends, they are leeches.”
God loving people are faithful friends. Nurture your true friends for they are necessary to promoting the wellness of life and increasing God’s message of love. Be a priceless friend!
Inspired by Ecclesiasticus 6:5-6, 14-17
Pleasant speech multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiples courtesies. Let those who are friendly with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand. Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them. Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so as their neighbors also.
The Optimist
The Optimist
“Throw it out! You don’t need to eat the whole box of candy.” “Do you think you will succeed with a sucky attitude?” “I have terrible study habits. I can’t change.”
Beneath the destructive exterior is the optimist in you. Remove roadblocks and temptations and embrace the most positive attitude you can muster.
Look out world I’m coming!
Inspired by Mark 9:45-50
Jesus said to his disciples, “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
“Throw it out! You don’t need to eat the whole box of candy.” “Do you think you will succeed with a sucky attitude?” “I have terrible study habits. I can’t change.”
Beneath the destructive exterior is the optimist in you. Remove roadblocks and temptations and embrace the most positive attitude you can muster.
Look out world I’m coming!
Inspired by Mark 9:45-50
Jesus said to his disciples, “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
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