WHOEVER IS KIND TO THE POOR

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Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17 (NIV2011)

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble. Psalm 41:1 (NLT)

In Acts 10 we read...

He [Cornelius] was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. ³ One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. ⁴ Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Acts 10:2-4 (NLT)

Some times serving the poor can seem pretty thankless.  You get up and go down to the soup kitchen, or as in my area, to the Grace Bridge food pantry, or to Frisco for Clothe A Child and you see little results.  People are fed or clothed, needs are met and sometimes someone gets saved, but you rarely see anyone turn their life around.  The miraculous rarely happens and angels don’t show up every day – they didn’t for Cornelius either. But then we catch a glimmer of God at work and we go back again or perhaps we just go back because we should.

The blessings of God are like the kiss of an angel.  They often go unnoticed. You, or someone you love, comes into contact with a deadly disease you never get.  You lose your keys and leave five minutes later than you planned and avoid a fatal or life altering crash.  A faithful follower of Christ befriends your rebellious child.  You make it to the gas station when you thought your car would run out of gas along the highway. Your pushy creditor suddenly agrees to a generous payoff.  You get a promotion and a raise you weren’t expecting or a surprise check comes in the mail . . . and so often we never connect the dots, but somewhere in heaven an angel flashes a smile and a wink that says, “You are blessed!  God has received your prayers and kindness to the poor as an offering!”

Paul’s counsel to the Galatians is good for us, too!

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Make The Most of Your Time

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I was thinking about my recent reading from the classic time management booklet, Tyranny of the Urgent, and this verse came to mind.  "...be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time for the days are evil."  Then Paul quickly adds the how to: "So then don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" Eph. 5:15-16 (NASB).  This is the key making any wise investment of time - understanding God's will.  That's how Jesus knew it was not time to heal every illness or cast out every demon.  That's how he knew when it was time to head to Jerusalem.  He understood what the will of the Lord is. 

If we hope to avoid using our time foolishly in this life - in our home, our church, our work, and our community we will have to make time daily to understand the will of the Lord.  I thought about this - the only person who can best tell you how to use your time is you.  And the only way you can know how is to give the first part of our time back to God and spend time alone with Him.  

This is my prayer: Father, as we each make decisions with how to use our time I pray we are found faithfully seeking your will.  And with that understanding we will say and do or don't say and do as you would have us to.  Amen.

Charles Hummel outline for making wise decisions regarding the use of our time:

1. Make a plan through meditation and prayer before you start the day.
2. Resist making on the spot commitments.
3. Evalute regularly - one hour weekly and one day monthly

"The only alternative to frustration is to be sure that we are doing what God wants." 

                                                                                        - Charles E. Hummel -

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

I was just thinking this morning about God's command to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything pray, giving thanks..." God's blessings have been falling like rain in my life and ministry lately increasing my work load dramatically. I was feeling more than a little anxious until I thought about God's command. I realized with greater clarity why God said, don't be anxious for anything, but pray with thanksgiving for everything. When I am anxious it is because I am feeling the pressure of what I must do and fearing (anxiety is a form of fear) I'm not enough for the task. But when I stop and pray, with thanksgiving, I put the burden back where it belongs, on God. Then the most amazing thing happens. Peace returns. In fact, the peace Jesus gives actually forms a guard protecting my heart and mind. Who would'a thunk it?! God, you are amazing! Thank you. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV2011)

My Morning Prayer

My morning prayer...

God, this new day, I freshly commit myself to the role you have invited me to play as you are building your church in this world. I am awestruck today that you include me in this life-saving, life-giving, world-transforming endeavor. So today I joyfully offer you my love, my heart, my energy, my talents, my creativity, my faithfulness, my resources, and my gratitude. I commit all of myself to the role that you have assigned me in the building of your church that it may thrive in this world. And I will BRING IT today! I will bring my best. You deserve it. Your church deserves it. It is the hope of the world. And I pray that you will call out many more workers into your service because the harvest is waiting to be reached.