|
Posted on 04/30/2021 10:23:24 PM PDT by JustAmy
|
Hi there!
Nice to see you!
đ
Never forget as you celebrate their sacrifices this weekend.
Bible in a Year:
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.
For Christopher, a physically disabled veteran, everyday activities had become more challenging, took longer to finish, and increased his pain. Still, he did his best to serve his wife and child. Passersby would see him using a push-mower to cut his lawn every week.
One day, Christopher received a letterâand an expensive riding lawnmowerâfrom an anonymous donor. The secret giverâs satisfaction came through the privilege of helping someone in need.
Jesus doesnât say that all our giving should be in secret, but He does remind us to check our motives when we give (Matthew 6:1). He also said: âWhen you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by othersâ (v. 2). While God expects us to be openhanded givers, He encourages us to avoid doing good deeds in front of people for the purpose of receiving accolades or special recognition (v. 3).
When we realize everything we have comes from God, we can be secret givers who donât need to pat our own backs or gain the admiration of others. Our all-knowing Giver of all good things delights in the genuine generosity of His people. Nothing beats the reward of His approval.
Reflect & Pray
How has God helped you through someone elseâs secret giving? Who can you help with an anonymous gift today?
Loving God, please bless me with opportunities to give as selflessly and sacrificially as You have given to me.
Â
Read Compassion: Learning to Love Like Jesus at DiscoverySeries.org/Q0208.
Happy Memorial Day
đșđžđșđžđșđž
Blessings to you too, as we remember the Fallen.
|
Bible in a Year:
I trust in your unfailing love.
She was perhaps the greatest âscapecowâ in history. We donât know if her name was Daisy, Madeline, or Gwendolyn (each name has been suggested), but Mrs. OâLearyâs cow was blamed for the 1871 Great Chicago Fire that left every third resident of the city homeless. Carried by strong winds through wooden structures, the fire burned for three days and took the lives of nearly three hundred people.
For years, many believed the fire began when the cow knocked over a lantern left burning in a shed. After further investigationâ126 years laterâthe cityâs Committee on Police and Fire passed a resolution exonerating the cow and her owners and suggesting the activities of a neighbor warranted scrutiny.
Justice often takes time, and Scripture acknowledges how difficult that can be. The refrain, âHow long?â is repeated four times in Psalm 13: âHow long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?â (vv. 1â2). But in the middle of his lament, David finds reason for faith and hope: âBut I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvationâ (v. 5).
Even when justice is delayed, Godâs love will never fail us. We can trust and rest in Him not just for the moment but for eternity.
Reflect & Pray
In what ways has God shown you His unfailing love? How will you demonstrate trust in Him today?
Loving God, help me to trust You even when I canât see what Youâre doing. Iâm thankful I can rest in Your goodness and faithfulness today.
Watch âWhat Is Justice?â at go.odb.org/WhatIsJustice.
|
Thank you.
Hope you had a good day! Nice here, was enjoying being out in the garden.
Have a lovely evening
đŽđđ«âïž
I’m glad you had a day off so you could putter in your garden! đ·đ»đŒđș
Gardening is a great workout! Feel way better than in winter, being inside the house too much. âșïž
I hope you have tons of pretty flowers and plants as a result of your “workouts”. :)
Bible in a Year:
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors.
I came to learn about Catherine Hamlin, a remarkable Australian surgeon, through reading her obituary. In Ethiopia, Catherine and her husband established the worldâs only hospital dedicated to curing women from the devastating physical and emotional trauma of obstetric fistulas, a common injury in the developing world that can occur during childbirth. Catherine is credited with overseeing the treatment of more than 60,000 women.
Still operating at the hospital when she was ninety-two years old, and still beginning each day with a cup of tea and Bible study, Hamlin told curious questioners that she was an ordinary believer in Jesus who was simply doing the job God had given her to do.
I was grateful to learn about her remarkable life because she powerfully exemplified for me Scriptureâs encouragement to believers to live our lives in such a way that even people who actively reject God âmay see your good deeds and glorify Godâ (1 Peter 2:12).
The power of Godâs Spirit that called us out of spiritual darkness into a relationship with Him (v. 9) can also transform our work or areas of service into testimonies of our faith. In whatever passion or skill God has gifted us, we can embrace added meaning and purpose in doing all of it in a manner that has the power to point people to Him.
Reflect & Pray
What has God called you to do? How might you do it today in Jesusâ name?
Jesus, may Your love and grace be evident in my words and deeds today.
|
Bible in a Year:
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.
I dropped to my knees and let my tears fall to the floor. âGod, why arenât you taking care of me?â I cried. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Iâd been laid-off for almost a month, and something had gone wrong with my unemployment application. I hadnât received any money yet, and the stimulus check the US government had promised hadnât arrived. Deep down, I trusted that God would work out everything. I believed He truly loved me and would take care of me, but in that moment, I felt abandoned.
The book of Lamentations reminds us itâs okay to lament. The book was likely written during or soon after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587 bc. It describes the affliction (3:1, 19), oppression (1:18), and starvation (2:20; 4:10) the people faced. Yet, in the middle of the book the author remembers why he could hope: âBecause of the Lordâs great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulnessâ (3:22â23). Despite the devastation, the author remembered that God remains faithful.
Sometimes it feels impossible to believe that âthe Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks himâ (v. 25), especially when we donât see an end to our suffering. But we can cry out to Him, trust that He hears us, and that Heâll be faithful to see us through.
Reflect & Pray
Whatâs making it difficult for you to trust God today? What will help you feel comfortable enough to cry out to Him?
Father, I need You right now. Please help me to trust You to come through for me in my difficult situation.
Â
To learn more about suffering and the Christian faith, visit ChristianUniversity.org/CA211.
|
That is so cute!
Is 91 here today! đ„
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
