Day 9: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

Thoughts on Day 9: Our actions speak louder than words. We say that all the time.It is kinda of ironic if you think about it. Let us stop talking about doing things and actually do them. We want people to know they are loved, great, but let’s start loving them in practical ways.

 

DAY NINE

1 John 3:18 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.

For the purpose of today’s devotional, I will be talking about Love as the Websters Dictionary states as (4th definition in the list) ” unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another”.

The Bible talks a lot about love. From love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, to love your enemies, to love one another. I ask the question, are we showing that love to those around us? When someone has 12 items in the 10 items or less line, are we grumbling about their lack of following direction and reading skills, or are we loving them? (I’m Guilty) When someone cuts into the parking spot are you ready to snap and confront them with some unpleasant words? (Again Guilty) When driving on a two-lane highway and someone speeds past you because you are behind a slow driver or someone won’t leave the right lane and are going slow does your frustration burn a little? (me again) Why is it so easy to get upset and angry and not as easy to show love?

What can we do in the above situations to show some practical love? I am asking God daily to help me a better person, not to let my anger get control of me. I want God’s love to resonate in everything I do, so that I won’t just talk about love but that it will be seen in me and in all I do. I pray the same for you.

We are saved by faith alone, but once Christ is in our lives we should want to do things to glorify His name by showing others His love with our actions. Helping the poor, helping families in need, assisting in your church, working in your community, sharing your faith with those around you, and so many other amazing things. So, if you are saved by grace, what are you doing to Practice Real Love?

Dear Jesus, help us today to see ways that we can practice real love. We continually say that we want others to see you through us, let what they see be a true reflection of who you are. They matter to you so they matter to me. Amen

 

Day 3: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

 

Day 3 Thoughts

My original thoughts for 50 Days of Pray was to get some outside help from other leaders and ministry leader. I believe I had two actually submissions and a few interested but I understand the busy lives these hard working people have. I hope you enjoy Pastor Mike Millers entry for today. I added a prayer as well.

Today’s Devotional is brought to us by Pastor Mike Miller who Worked at the Rock Church in Lwr Sackville NS. Mike has been busy in launching Nova Church in Halifax NS.

Battle over the Balcony
Why do leaders at the pinnacle of success seem to derail themselves? Rob Ford has become the punch line to every late night TV joke but at one time he had goals and dreams too…what happened?

Bad news gets around the world before good news gets it’s boots on!
This past year there have been a lot of texts, calls, tweets and chats sharing bad news involving moral failures it seems.
Many have involved dear friends or people I don’t know yet respect highly and in either case, my first response has always been one of grief. If you are looking for judgement this isn’t the place, I agree their actions were wrong but they know it and are reminded daily as they rebuild their lives and families.

I’ve been thinking a lot about WHY these things happen and hope to learn, strengthen and provoke myself in the process.

2 Samuel 11 has helped me process this. This is the story where King David should be out at war on the battlefield but instead stays home on the balcony where he sees Bathsheba commits adultery with her and eventually kills her husband.

How did this history making legend go from being on top of the world to his world falling apart

Few things I know

1.Your victories yesterday don’t promise you legacy tomorrow.
David was the same guy he always was. The Same guy who killed a lion and a bear, same guy who pushed past a father who undervalued him to say “is there not a cause?” the same guy who challenged the giants of his day that mocked his faith and persecuted his nation.

2. Timing is everything
“There is not only a right thing to do but a right time to do it” – Abraham Lincoln
2 Samuel 11 vs 1 ” It happened in the spring of the year at the time when kings go out to battle….but David remained in Jerusalem”
The spring time was the fighting season! The season before was rainy which caused impossible conditions for chariots to move in the mud and flash floods washed out roads, the season after was the harvest time which demanded every man to work fields to feed their family and keep the country going. The spring was THE time to fight.

3. When fatigue walks in faith walks out
Vs 2 “David arose from his bed”. It doesn’t say why David didn’t go fight but one would think that decades of fighting, training, being under insecure and violent leadership and then leading a nation himself has to have wore him down. We must learn to rest and withdraw without going AWOL or isolating

4. More leaders are destroyed on the balconies than any battlefield
Psalm 127:4 ” Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are the children of ones youth” We like arrows are meant to be aimed not stored, to be launched not to lounge. To do anything other than your purpose will frustrate you.
Where have to shelved yourself? Don’t let your leaders or family fight your battle in prayer

5. God takes a mess and makes a message
God still chose to birth His Son through David’s name and legacy, He wasn’t done with David and He isn’t done with you!

Today I choose the battle over the balcony and I pray you do too!

 

Father, we thank you that you are always with us and ready to help us through the mess of this life. I pray that you will keep us away from distractions that will lead us into temptation. Keep us focused on the mission of reaching the lost. Holy Spirit guide us in wisdom and opportunities. The people of this world matter to you so they matter to us. Amen

Day 2: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

Thought on Day 2, I wrote this on Valentine’s day and the thought of separating one day to show affection is something that has always perplexed me. To make any relationship work we must be prepared to show our love every day. If we are showing love in a real way in our relationships then Valentine’s day will be a day of over the top affection, not a reminder of what you should be doing.

 

Song of Songs 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Today is a day not unlike any other, except in our society we put a label on it saying it is the day of Love. We are called to love every day of the year and to ensure those around us know they are continually loved. Married couples need to take the verse of today, pray it together, seal the love of their spouse securely in their hearts. With this seal in place and the love for each other strong, when the temptation comes to do things that are destructive to your marriage, the seal will protect and guide you away from evil. What is this seal you ask? The Holy Spirit is the seal that binds you together. He will merge your needs and desires with the love of Christ and create a bond that no evil can destroy. The best gift you can give your spouse today is to pray with them and make a conscious decision to seal your hearts with Jesus.

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for another day where we can breathe the air you created. You show yourself in everything in this world. You bring man and woman together to join in marriage. I pray today that Husbands and Wives will join together this very day and ask the Holy Spirit to bond them together with a seal created by you. That all that they do as a couple is motivated by Your will and when evil attempts it trickery that they will fall to their knees as a couple and, walk with You through the trouble. God to you, the glory, honour and praise. Let our love be an example to those around us whose marriages are failing, let them see that there is hope in Jesus for their lives and their marriages. They matter to God and they should matter to us. Amen

Day 28: 50 Days of Change

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As a society in general we have got this understanding of giving generously down in certain areas. When it comes to natural disasters and injustice we are very generous people. We don’t always know what section of the population is actually giving, but we know that when things happen people around us give. This inherient desire to help others falls back on our basic setup to love one another. Some though lose this during their upbringing and become selfish, greedy and want nothing more then to be self serving. 

This attitude of ‘why can’t they just help themselves’ has infected many people in the world today. It is my money I earned it I deserve it and why should I give it to someone else who may just burn it on unimportant things. We expect our kids to understand this principle when we spend hundreds if not thousand of dollars on them at Chrismas, yet do minimal for others. But the parents will keep admonishing their children that ‘it is better to give then to receive’. Honestly does the actions match the words?

What is the purpose behind this generosity, does it matter? It may, is the generosity meant to get noticed, to elevate yourself to a position of importance? Or are you giving to honestly help others, understanding that recognition isn’t always important? Do you give when in abundance only or when the need is required even if it hurts your bottom line? We must be wise in our giving, especially these days where people are working hard to scam money from anyone. It never hurts to investigate where your money is going if giving to an organization. It is harder to discern when giving to someone on the street or comes to you for help. For these you need to be trusting the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment, you will know what the appropriate course of action is. It may be wiser to buy them lunch or groceries then hand them cas, those moments will give you opportunity to connect and see how else you can help.

Whatever you do, however you do it let your motivation  be the mission of sharing the love of Jesus with those in need. Change how you give.

Father, I know for me you have blessed me so much. I thank you for it. I will be obedient to your word and give generously to those in need. Let me see the need and act accordingly. I pray that my purpose for giving is missional and not selfish, give me wisdom in this. The people of this world matter to you so they matter to me. Amen