Daily Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
I was recently in a restaurant just off an major interstate. Just after ordering a woman and two small girls came in. They explained that a 4 year old from Missouri had been kidnapped by a stranger and they asked if they could hang the missing persons sign up at the restraunt since it was so close to the interstate. Maybe someone getting off the interstate there would have saw the missing child. The woman explained that she didn't know the child but since she was travelling up the interstate she had volunteered to stop at every major exit along the way and post the flyers. The person at the counter said yes & that they would hang up the flyer. After the lady left I kept waiting for the employees to hang up the sign so I could see what the girl looked like and see if I had recognized her as I had been coming from the opposite direction. The sign was never hung up and instead of asking about it I said a prayer and went on my way. Fortunately the child was found later unharmed and the man that had kidnapped her (a complete stranger) committed suicide in front of police.
Which person are you today? Are you the woman helping a complete stranger by doing what she can. Are you the employee who says "yes" but goes no further. Are you the lost girl who hopes someone will find her and take her home? Are you me wanting to help but decide that prayer is sufficient? Are you the man who has sinned and has condemned himself to death? Or are you the police officers that went the extra mile to find the little girl and save her?
Father GOD, please help me to go all out for you and your lost sheep. Give me strength to stand for you and help others to find their way to you. In JESUS name I pray, AMEN.
Matthew 25:40 "The KING will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Need More? Visit Matthew 25:14-30
Showing posts with label coincidences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coincidences. Show all posts
Friday, July 9, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Persecution is painful to those watching
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 33:1-11
As Christians we watch people around us suffer quite differently than non-believers. As a non-believer when can join in with the person suffering. We can relate to how unfair life is. We can sympathize with them but take comfort that we are glad it isn't happening to us.
Christians on the other hand understand that GOD has a plan for us. We have been down the road of rebellion and seen first hand GOD's loving hands guiding us back to his fold. We see the man who hates his job and nothing ever seems to be going right and we think back to the time where we were waken from our eternal slumber. We realized that GOD was getting our attention so that we would focus on him. After we turned to him our lives became better. Not perfect or easy but better as in knowing that GOD was going to handle the tough times and carry us through until we were strong enough to deal with them on our own.
As Christians we watch GOD allowing the non-believer to be persecuted. We see GOD waiting in the wings for the person to wake up and realize that they need GOD in their life. GOD works on so many people each and every day. As Christians we must be available to be used by GOD is his master plan for all people.
Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.
Need More? Visit Numbers 14:17-20
As Christians we watch people around us suffer quite differently than non-believers. As a non-believer when can join in with the person suffering. We can relate to how unfair life is. We can sympathize with them but take comfort that we are glad it isn't happening to us.
Christians on the other hand understand that GOD has a plan for us. We have been down the road of rebellion and seen first hand GOD's loving hands guiding us back to his fold. We see the man who hates his job and nothing ever seems to be going right and we think back to the time where we were waken from our eternal slumber. We realized that GOD was getting our attention so that we would focus on him. After we turned to him our lives became better. Not perfect or easy but better as in knowing that GOD was going to handle the tough times and carry us through until we were strong enough to deal with them on our own.
As Christians we watch GOD allowing the non-believer to be persecuted. We see GOD waiting in the wings for the person to wake up and realize that they need GOD in their life. GOD works on so many people each and every day. As Christians we must be available to be used by GOD is his master plan for all people.
Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.
Need More? Visit Numbers 14:17-20
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Nothing Coincidental
Daily Reading: Colossians 4:2-6
Everyday we have expectations of what will happen. Everyday things don't go exactly according to plan. Something happens even the smallest thing that puts us in a circumstance we weren't expecting. A worker doesn't show up for a job and you fill in because another person was overwhelmed, visiting a loved one in a hospital and having to search for a bathroom further away from their room than the one you usually visit and you end up helping another visitor figure out how to turn a chair into a bed, and receiving a surprise delivery of flowers that was left with the neighbor because you weren't home which gave them joy and a nice visit with you.
In just one day all three of these things happened to me. In all these instances God used me to help others. Nothing gigantic or monumental but little things that made another person's life easier. God places us into situations where we can choose to help our fellow people or we can just keep going on our merry way. I didn't have to help the overwhelmed worker (not my job), I didn't have to help figure out the chair (I had never even used one before), I didn't have to visit with the neighbor (I could have collected the flowers & then hurried back home with a simple thank you or less).
God places us into positions to help but he doesn't make us help. He leads us to the water but he doesn't force us to drink it. Instead of thinking what a good deed we have done for someone else we should thank him for the little opportunities he tests us with so that we will recognize the bigger tests when they come along as being from him rather than the coincidences that we see so often.
Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.(NIV)
Need More? Visit Ephesians 5:1-21
Everyday we have expectations of what will happen. Everyday things don't go exactly according to plan. Something happens even the smallest thing that puts us in a circumstance we weren't expecting. A worker doesn't show up for a job and you fill in because another person was overwhelmed, visiting a loved one in a hospital and having to search for a bathroom further away from their room than the one you usually visit and you end up helping another visitor figure out how to turn a chair into a bed, and receiving a surprise delivery of flowers that was left with the neighbor because you weren't home which gave them joy and a nice visit with you.
In just one day all three of these things happened to me. In all these instances God used me to help others. Nothing gigantic or monumental but little things that made another person's life easier. God places us into situations where we can choose to help our fellow people or we can just keep going on our merry way. I didn't have to help the overwhelmed worker (not my job), I didn't have to help figure out the chair (I had never even used one before), I didn't have to visit with the neighbor (I could have collected the flowers & then hurried back home with a simple thank you or less).
God places us into positions to help but he doesn't make us help. He leads us to the water but he doesn't force us to drink it. Instead of thinking what a good deed we have done for someone else we should thank him for the little opportunities he tests us with so that we will recognize the bigger tests when they come along as being from him rather than the coincidences that we see so often.
Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.(NIV)
Need More? Visit Ephesians 5:1-21
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)