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Posted on 01/01/2024 3:15:48 PM PST by luvie
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Bible in a Year :
One person gives freely, yet gains even more.
On her wedding day, Gwendolyn Stulgis wore the wedding dress of her dreams. Then she gave it away—to a stranger. Stulgis believed a dress deserved more than sitting in a closet collecting dust. Other brides agreed. Now scores of women have bonded on her social media site to donate and receive wedding dresses. As one giver said, “I hope this dress gets passed from bride to bride to bride, and it just gets worn out and is in tatters at the end of its life because of all the celebrating that’s done in it.”
The spirit of giving can feel like a celebration, indeed. As it is written, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24–25).
The apostle Paul taught this principle in the New Testament. As he said his goodbyes to the believers in Ephesus, he gave them a blessing (Acts 20:32) and reminded them of the importance of generosity. Paul pointed to his own work ethic as an example for them to follow. “In everything I did,” he said, “I showed you that by . . . hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ” (v. 35).
Being generous reflects God. “For God so loved the world that He gave . . .” (John 3:16). Let’s follow His glorious example as He guides us. .
Reflect & Pray
What good gift have you given recently? How did your gift help someone?
Dear Father, please open my hands to give to others with Your love in my heart.
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Bad mommy! LOL
Thank you.
All that gets is a $20K+ bill. Medicaid reset on January 1. The TIA bill was more than that as they kept him overnight, on the wrong Meds. Failed to call a Cardio in.
This emergency lies SQUARLY ON MORGAN & MORGAN FOR NOT FILING THE DSSI REVIEW PAPER WORK. I told him to use Chris Cargnie who doesn’t advertise, and worked for DSSI at one point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNFNZxUIorM
Bible in a Year :
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Christina Costa noticed how much of the talk around facing cancer is dominated by the language of fighting. She found that this metaphor quickly started to feel exhausting. She “didn’t want to spend over a year at war with [her] own body.” Instead, what she found most helpful were daily practices of gratitude—for the team of professionals caring for her and for the ways her brain and body were showing healing. She experienced firsthand that no matter how difficult the struggle, practices of gratitude can help us resist depression and “wire our brains to help us build resilience.”
Costa’s powerful story reminded me that practicing gratitude isn’t just something believers do out of duty. Although it’s true that God deserves our gratitude, it’s also profoundly good for us. When we lift up our hearts to say, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2), we’re reminded of the countless ways God’s at work—assuring us of forgiveness, working healing in our bodies and hearts, letting us experience “love and compassion” and countless “good things” in His creation (vv. 3–5).
While not all suffering will find complete healing in this lifetime, our hearts can always be renewed by gratitude, for God’s love is with us “from everlasting to everlasting” (v. 17). .
Reflect & Pray
How have you experienced healing through gratitude? What are you grateful for today?
Dear God, thank You for
(((((Many Blessings)))))
(((((Prayers Ascending)))))
Thanks Kitty! We are exhausted keeping up with the pup!
Good thing he is cute as a button.
Is only 3 months old, so he is being trained/tamed by us.
It has been many years since we adopted such a young pup.
Our older dog Moose was 6 months when we got him, and old enough to be previously house trained.
So we have a few months of extra exercise and some long nights of a crying pup needing a few outside trips to potty.
Last night it was 11pm, 3am and 7am (took him on long walk at 7).
In a year I’ll be able to sleep again.
Ha ha
😅
Bible in a Year :
Has no one condemned you?
Maggie’s young friend showed up in church shockingly dressed. No one should have been surprised though; she was a prostitute. Maggie’s visitor shifted uneasily in her seat, alternately tugging at her much-too-short skirt and folding her arms self-consciously around herself.
“Oh, are you cold?” Maggie asked, deftly diverting attention away from how she was dressed. “Here! Take my shawl.”
Maggie introduced dozens of people to Jesus simply by inviting them to come to church and helping them feel comfortable. The gospel had a way of shining through her winsome methods. She treated everyone with dignity.
When religious leaders dragged a woman before Jesus with the harsh (and accurate) charge of adultery, Christ kept the attention off her until He sent her accusers away. Once they were gone, He could have scolded her. Instead, He asked two simple questions: “Where are they?” and “Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10). The answer to the latter question, of course, was no. So Jesus gave her the gospel in one brief statement: “Then neither do I condemn you.” And then the invitation: “Go now and leave your life of sin” (v. 11).
Never underestimate the power of genuine love for people—the kind of love that refuses to condemn, even as it extends dignity and forgiveness to everyone. .
Reflect & Pray
How will you react when you see someone who’s living a hard lifestyle? Who can you invite to church this week and how might you get them to come?
Gracious God, please forgive me for having a judgmental spirit, and help me to show others Your love and grace.
Learn more about the importance of extending forgiveness.
Good morning Mayor.
It’s been a long time since I have “ walked down Amy’s place Lane”....
I always have loved reading your devotionals ( Daily Bread?)...
Today’s is no exception. Our GREAT GOD of compassion and love... may we learn today from His example.
Polly
P.S..... your tagline is my prayer!!!
Sooo good to see you popping in!
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Can you imagine having that many of those energetic bodies in one house? EEK! LOL!
Just ONE is more than enough! LOL!
That’s what I was thinkin’!
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