By Mary White
Friday 4-9-10 1 Sam. 6,7; Psa. 72; 2Cor. 9 Reap What We Sow
S- 2 Cor.9:7 "For the Lord loves a cheerful giver."
O- Paul is w riting to the church in Corinth, encoouraging them to support and to be generous to the Team he is sending them.
A-Paul uses the analogy of "What you sow you will reap" Sowing and reaping is easy for me to understand. We are getting ready to plant our garden and we are looking for a good harvest, so we will sow generously Paul also talks about the attitude of our heart...when we decide to give or do something...we should do it with a cheerful heart. To me this speaks not only of giving of my finances but also how I deal with my family, friends, church and co-workers. Whatever I give or do should be with a pure and cheerful heart. If I love generously...I will reap love.
P- Help me Lord to be extragavent wiith my love, deeds and giving.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
WHERE'S YOUR FOCUS?
by Vivian Bills
Wednesday - April 7, 2010 - 1 Samuel 1,2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7
S - 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
O - There is sorrow that brings life and sorrow that brings death. When your focus is on the Lord and you realize you've done wrong, you can repent and be saved. But, when your focus is on yourself and you realize your depravity, that leads to depression and separation from God.
A - The best way to climb out of depression is to focus on the Lord's goodness as opposed to your own sinfulness. The next best thing is to help someone else. There is a lot of self-focus in the world today. A lot of people do whatever it is that feels good to them (drugs, drinking, illicit sex, overeating) instead of doing things that help other people and therefore pleasing the Lord.
P - Lord, help me to not focus on me and to instead focus on You and what You would have me do for You and for other people. In You there is fullness of joy.
Wednesday - April 7, 2010 - 1 Samuel 1,2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7
S - 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
O - There is sorrow that brings life and sorrow that brings death. When your focus is on the Lord and you realize you've done wrong, you can repent and be saved. But, when your focus is on yourself and you realize your depravity, that leads to depression and separation from God.
A - The best way to climb out of depression is to focus on the Lord's goodness as opposed to your own sinfulness. The next best thing is to help someone else. There is a lot of self-focus in the world today. A lot of people do whatever it is that feels good to them (drugs, drinking, illicit sex, overeating) instead of doing things that help other people and therefore pleasing the Lord.
P - Lord, help me to not focus on me and to instead focus on You and what You would have me do for You and for other people. In You there is fullness of joy.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
HIS PROTECTIVE WING
by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 4/6/2010 Ruth 3,4; Ps 64,65; 2 Cor 6 - HIS PROTECTIVE WING
S- Ruth 3:9 MSG/NIV "Take me under your protective wing... Spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a kinsman-redeemer."
O - Ruth had been instructed by Naomi to offer herself for marriage to Boaz, a next of kin. He had extended great kindness to her in allowing her to glean from his fields. She lay at his feet in the night, a sign of willingness to marry. She was a widow with no one to carry on the inheritance, the family name of her father-in-law. Boaz later took her as his wife and they became the great-grandparents of King David, in the line of Jesus.
A- Isn't it amazing that Jesus was birthed from this line and then He becomes our kinsman-redeemer? He purchases us for himself, restores our family inheritance, gives us the riches of the kingdom. We come under his protective care; his wing of covering surrounds and enfolds us. He is attentive and caring, loving and kind. He is our Redeemer.
P- Lord, may I remember today all that you have done to rescue and restore me. May the cross be ever before me. May I not take lightly that you surround my under the shadow of your wings. I thank you for all you've done and I bless you for who you are... my kinsman-redeemer.
Tuesday 4/6/2010 Ruth 3,4; Ps 64,65; 2 Cor 6 - HIS PROTECTIVE WING
S- Ruth 3:9 MSG/NIV "Take me under your protective wing... Spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a kinsman-redeemer."
O - Ruth had been instructed by Naomi to offer herself for marriage to Boaz, a next of kin. He had extended great kindness to her in allowing her to glean from his fields. She lay at his feet in the night, a sign of willingness to marry. She was a widow with no one to carry on the inheritance, the family name of her father-in-law. Boaz later took her as his wife and they became the great-grandparents of King David, in the line of Jesus.
A- Isn't it amazing that Jesus was birthed from this line and then He becomes our kinsman-redeemer? He purchases us for himself, restores our family inheritance, gives us the riches of the kingdom. We come under his protective care; his wing of covering surrounds and enfolds us. He is attentive and caring, loving and kind. He is our Redeemer.
P- Lord, may I remember today all that you have done to rescue and restore me. May the cross be ever before me. May I not take lightly that you surround my under the shadow of your wings. I thank you for all you've done and I bless you for who you are... my kinsman-redeemer.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday April 5, 2010 Ruth 1 &2, Psalm 89, 2Cor. 3 "Favor"
Monday April 5, 2010 Ruth 1 &2, Psalm 89, 2Cor. 3 "Favor"
S-Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi
said "Go ahead my daughter."
O- Ruth was a widow and the daughter in law of Naomi. She lived with her mother in law and took care of her. She had thought to go to the harvest fields
where perhaps she could go behind the servant girls and find favor in someone's eyes, who would bless her with grains or to recognize the "worker"
in her. The owner of the field asked about Ruth, "who is that" he asked. Because her character and work ethic was admirable. She did not come
to the field looking for hand outs, but rather she came to work, and to give her very best, and to hopefully be recognized for that. She found
A divine appointment with Boaz and extreme favor in his eyes, when he found out who she was, but even more when he found out WHOSE she
was. She had an inheritance and lineage with Boaz. God crossed their paths, to bless His daughter Ruth.
A- Ruth went to the field with a pure heart, and seeking after a destiny. She worked hard and did not grumble or complain but rather, took the talents
she had, and made them work for her. She stood out amongst the crowd, and this is what captured "favor" to be upon her from that day forward.
God gives us all gifts and talents, and has a destiny already prepared for us, that involve our gifts and talents, but often we want someone elses gifts,
and are not satisfied with our gifts and talents. When we walk in what God has given us and have a great attitude, without murmuring and complaining.
He will be Faithful, to bless us with Favor and open doors at the right time in our lives. God wants our path to our destiny to be fun and a happy journey
and for us to "stand out" in what He has given us, for gifts and talents to be used for His glory.
P- Father, help us to get this right. Clean our hearts from everything that tries to smother the joy in our hearts from the gifts you have blessed us with. Let our
light shine, in a harvest field where there are many many harvesters and servants. Let us be the one chosen with your favor. Open the doors of favor in
our lives and teach us to be responsible for what you have given us. There is an inheritance out there just waiting for us to make claim to it, help us find
it and treasure it for our lives.........start with me today Lord. Amen
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Challenge!
S- Ps 89:1, 16 "I will sing of the Lord's great love."' and "I will rejoice in your Name all day long."
O - The Psalmist makes a decision in the midst of challenging circumstanceds that He will focus on who God is and will use his mouth to declare God's greatness. He declares that God is loving faithful, mighty, righteous, just, awesome and that God is his strength and shield.
A - I will declare God's goodness and his greatness today. I will rejoice in his name (his nature) all through today.
P - Lord, you are good, faithful and kind. You are my shield and my provider. My family and I are blessed because we "have learned to acclaim you" and we have learned "to walk in the light of your presence."
O - The Psalmist makes a decision in the midst of challenging circumstanceds that He will focus on who God is and will use his mouth to declare God's greatness. He declares that God is loving faithful, mighty, righteous, just, awesome and that God is his strength and shield.
A - I will declare God's goodness and his greatness today. I will rejoice in his name (his nature) all through today.
P - Lord, you are good, faithful and kind. You are my shield and my provider. My family and I are blessed because we "have learned to acclaim you" and we have learned "to walk in the light of your presence."
Friday, April 2, 2010
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
Diana Kriesel
Friday, 4/2/10 – Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2 – “THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST”
S – 2 Corinthians 2:15 – “As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.” (Living Bible)
O – Paul is saying that we are a sweet fragrance to God, and to those around us, both saved and unsaved. God is pleased when we ‘live’ the gospel out in our lives. That aroma comes from the precious life of Christ WITHIN us, and lived out THROUGH us. Paul identified his own life as a sacrificial offering, which was pleasing to God.
A – As we live our lives proclaiming the gospel with our words and our actions, something precious comes forth unto the Lord, bringing Him pleasure. Sometimes when the gospel confronts people’s lives, it is received with joy; other times it is rejected. Our responsibility remains the same: to show forth the love of Christ. Even though the results are left in God’s hands, we can take joy in knowing that our efforts are not in vain, they bring the Father the aroma of obedience.
P – Lord, we desire to have such a holy love for you that we do not falter when people do not respond to the gospel message the way we would hope. May our purpose be to bring You pleasure. No matter what.
Friday, 4/2/10 – Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2 – “THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST”
S – 2 Corinthians 2:15 – “As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.” (Living Bible)
O – Paul is saying that we are a sweet fragrance to God, and to those around us, both saved and unsaved. God is pleased when we ‘live’ the gospel out in our lives. That aroma comes from the precious life of Christ WITHIN us, and lived out THROUGH us. Paul identified his own life as a sacrificial offering, which was pleasing to God.
A – As we live our lives proclaiming the gospel with our words and our actions, something precious comes forth unto the Lord, bringing Him pleasure. Sometimes when the gospel confronts people’s lives, it is received with joy; other times it is rejected. Our responsibility remains the same: to show forth the love of Christ. Even though the results are left in God’s hands, we can take joy in knowing that our efforts are not in vain, they bring the Father the aroma of obedience.
P – Lord, we desire to have such a holy love for you that we do not falter when people do not respond to the gospel message the way we would hope. May our purpose be to bring You pleasure. No matter what.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
THE REDEMPTIVE GOD OF COMFORT
by Cathy Weymouth
Thursday 4/1/10 Judg 11,12; Ps 50; 2 Cor 1 THE REDEMPTIVE GOD OF COMFORT
S- 1 Cor 1:3,4,6MSG All praise to... God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us... When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation.
O - When we suffer in this life, it is never a lost experience if we turn to the Lord to meet us in our need. He is gracious and kind; loving and gently. He comforts us and we encounter His love. And then the extra blessing comes - He is amazing. He uses our experience to help others walking through a similar hardship. He is truly amazing. How does He coordinate all that?? Our own suffering becomes redemptive.
A - Why do we want so badly to escape when hardship comes? Why do we want it to end? Probably because pain is so darn... painful. If we could remember that our situation is going to be used as a blessing for others, maybe we'd be more likely to embrace what we are going through with a better attitude!
P - Father, as I meet with the young UVM Navigator girls in retreat, use the things you have taught me in my discomfort. May I be a blessing to them, extending the comfort you have given me. And may they truly see You in the midst of it!
Thursday 4/1/10 Judg 11,12; Ps 50; 2 Cor 1 THE REDEMPTIVE GOD OF COMFORT
S- 1 Cor 1:3,4,6MSG All praise to... God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us... When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation.
O - When we suffer in this life, it is never a lost experience if we turn to the Lord to meet us in our need. He is gracious and kind; loving and gently. He comforts us and we encounter His love. And then the extra blessing comes - He is amazing. He uses our experience to help others walking through a similar hardship. He is truly amazing. How does He coordinate all that?? Our own suffering becomes redemptive.
A - Why do we want so badly to escape when hardship comes? Why do we want it to end? Probably because pain is so darn... painful. If we could remember that our situation is going to be used as a blessing for others, maybe we'd be more likely to embrace what we are going through with a better attitude!
P - Father, as I meet with the young UVM Navigator girls in retreat, use the things you have taught me in my discomfort. May I be a blessing to them, extending the comfort you have given me. And may they truly see You in the midst of it!
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