James 5:19-20 (The Message)
" My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God."
I want so much to just
be a sheep in the middle
of your flock.
To curl up and be safe.
To be fed and nurtured in your love.
But your call is clear -
Your directions plain:
"You Shepherd also."
Find the lost, the hurting,
Those who are wandering away
from the flock.
Don't just say goodbye and let them go
Destruction bent.
Shepherd them.
Reach out with your tools and
Bring them back to the fold.
Bring them back to God.
Then all can sleep safely
Curled up and blanketed with your love.
d365.org GO! (Adapted from a 1850 hymn by John Greenleaf Whittier)
"Children of God, lift hearts to ne another;
Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there;
To worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer."
FRIDAY, October 5 "Practice Prayer"
James 5:16 (The Message)
"Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."
'Make this your common practice." Prayer. How common do we make it? Daily before dinner? Every morning or bedtime? Sundays? Or only when in trouble and need God's help?Common practice. That's a habit. That's something we do ALL THE TIME!
'Pray without ceasing' is another way the Gospel puts it. The Celtic Christians have a philosophy to incorporate prayer into every aspect of their daily life: sleeping, working, eating, gathering. Prayers for each hour of the day.
Common practice. That's maintaining a direct 'life-line' to God for instant dial-up. That's using our speed dial with God. The conversation need not be long. The important piece is that it take place. Often.
Who do I pray for? Others. My prayers now are so self-centered. MY needs, MY family. Empower me, God, to open my practice up to include frequent prayers for my greater community. What would happen if I pause often today to pray for the life of our Habitat homeowner? For circumstances in the lives of my fellow Habi-town residents? For the Habitat board and its mission in Las Cruces? What if I make this a common practice? Every nail, a mini prayer. How many nails?....prayers will be flowing!
THURSDAY, October 4
James 5:13-15 (The Message)
Getting to know the story of our Habitat homeowners, allows us to become one with them - the same hurts, joys, and sorrows that we bear. When we become ONE in God, we want to do our part to bear one another burdens.
Today I want to pray, to listen to those around me, to sing and shout in praise, and be a part of reconciliation! All while I swing my hammer!
WEDNESDAY, October 3
James 4:7-8a (The Message)
"So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time."No! Yes!
Resist. Submit.
Acquire. Share.
Oppress. Serve.
Ignore. Invite.
Tempt. Offer.
So many choices.
Everyday. Every hour.
So many opportunities to let God work in me.
Go away, Evil!
Come, Lord Jesus.
May your will be done through me.
TUESDAY, October 2
James 4:2-3 (Good News Translation)
"You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures."
Giving God.
You pour out blessings upon us.
Yet we are greedy for more.
You envelop us with your love,
Yet we are not content.
We ask for what we have not,
And then complain when it doesn't arrive tomorrow.
All the blessings, love, and contentment will be ours
If we center our desires on you.
Help our motives be pure,
Help our service be true,
Help us stay grounded in your Message,
Seeking the treasure you provide.
Then we can truly reach out in love
To build the Kingdom of Heaven
Here on earth.
MONDAY, October 1
James 3:17-18 (The Message)
"Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."
Peace, you say, Lord.
Live in peace and harmony.
Get along with each other.
Respect each other.
Love each other.
That's hard work.
Right work.
Today, help me see opportunities to respect.
Help me find ways to get along.
Help me discover chances to spread your love.
Help me be a servant to others.
We are building a community.
Among ourselves,
Among those we serve.
Dignity and honor,
Love and respect.
Those are our tools.
Just as important as chop-saw
and level,
Hammer and nail.
Note: Today is World Habitat Day! I learned last night that Habitat International will complete its 500,000 home (half a million!) by the end of the year. In the US, Habitat is the 5th largest construction 'firm' of new homes, and the ONLY one growing in the recent recession. This is a group with a purpose and mission - and it works!
SUNDAY, September 30
d365.PAUSE! (Sarah Briggs)
God made us for relationship, that's for sure. But being in relationship is sometimes quite a challenge; that's for sure too! You are here now because of your relationship with God. May these moments together with your Creator give you a greater understanding of how to live out your earthly relationships as well.
Psalm 19: 1, 3-4,14 (Good News Translation)
"How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
2
3 No speech or words are used,
no sound is heard;
4 yet their message goes out to all the world
and is heard to the ends of the earth.
May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!"
Indeed, last night the heavens did declare God's glory! Rick and I drove back out to White Sands to witness two things: the sunset and the moonrise. And God spoke from the skies with glory! The colors of the western sunrise lasted for nearly an hour as first the colors lit up the clouds high above, creating at times tongues of fire, halos of light outlining the clouds, and finally a deep orange glow silhouetting the San Andres range of mountains. When we turned around, the moon was peeking up above the bank of clouds that had kept it hidden until the sun finished it's display. Gradually, as the skies darkened, the light of the moon began to cast shadows in the sparkling white sands. No speech or words, yet God's message was heard.
Do I do as well, Lord? Do my actions speak my message as clearly? Do people recognize the Christ in me by what I do? Does my message stretch out from the hands and arms working in your name? Are my actions (and words) acceptable to you, God? Help me keep trying....daily.  |
| Our Las Cruces sunset from today fits right in! Ignore the power lines! |
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