Thirty Days of Giving - Be Challenged!

My cousin-in-law Alyssa, at Keeping the Kingdom First, is hosting The 30-Day Giving Challenge again this year.  I have accepted the challenge and encourage you to do the same.

With November here, we automatically begin thinking about Thanksgiving.  Why not make the whole month of November a month of thanks and giving?  While going through this 30-day challenge of giving something each day, you will be blessed in return.  With each gift or act of kindness, you will feel good to have helped someone else.  You will also begin to think more about the needs of others around you.

There are all sorts of way to give during this challenge.  You can give money, of course, but you can also give supplies, food, and clothing.  Those are things we naturally think about as ways to help others.  But I want to suggest another way that you can give of yourself during this challenge:  Give of your time.

Time is a precious thing to all of us, but sometimes we become stingy and selfish with our time.  Think about the hours you spend watching TV or hours on the computer or maybe enjoying a hobby.  Could you give up some of that time to help someone else - to give of yourself to help others?

It's great to give money, food, supplies, and clothes - and in fact, it's needed.  But, we must also make sure we are giving of ourselves from the heart and not just giving to fulfill and obligation - as a sense of duty.

Because I live in a very, very small town (less than 900 people) my ways to volunteer will be different than yours, but here are some ways to give in the next 30 days:

  1.  Volunteer to read a book at school.
  2.  Volunteer to take an elderly person shopping or to the grocery store.
  3.  Volunteer to babysit (free of charge) for a family with young children.
  4.  Take a meal to a neighbor.
  5.  Take a care package to a hospital waiting room.
  6.  Go visit patients in the hospital.
  7.  Take a group of adults, teens, or children to the nursing home to visit and sing.
  8.  Send someone a card. (homemade or purchased)
  9.  Bake cookies or muffins and take them to work to share with your co-workers.
10.  Volunteer to rake leaves in an elderly person's yard (or other yard work).
11.  Volunteer to take elderly people to their doctor's appointment.
12.  In line at a fast food drive-thru, pay for the person's meal/order behind you.
13.  Take flowers to an office (ex. your bank, doctor's office, post office, etc.)
14.  Send a hand-written note to a teenager (they'll be shocked that it's not a text message)
15.  If your child is in school, volunteer to help with school events, parties and carnivals.  Even if you work, those in charge can use your help in some way.
16.  Make fall door decorations and take them to nursing home residents.
17.  Take a meal to a family with a newborn baby.
18.  Help organize food boxes to give away to families in need.
19.  Send a note of encouragement to men and women in the military.
20.  Volunteer your time at a women's shelter, a soup kitchen, or other service provider.
21.  Take the time to call or go visit widows and widowers.  This time of year can be especially lonely for those who have lost their spouses and whose children may not live close by.
22.  Invite someone to your home.  This could be for a meal, for coffee/tea, desserts, or maybe a game.
23.  Host a neighborhood ladies' brunch.  Hand-deliver invitations.  Play ice-breaker-type games that allow each person time to talk.
24.  Host a ladies salad supper with friends or Christian sisters from your congregation.  Have them bring an item from their past to tell about, as well as their favorite salad.
25.  Most people do not like to ask for help, even if they need it.  Offer to help others in a specific way, such as, "I have Monday morning free.  Why don't I come help you with whatever you need done?" 

I look forward to this challenge and know that it really will be a challenge.  It is something I will need to plan for daily.  It won't just happen.  I have to "plan" for it to happen.  On the other hand, I can expect to be blessed by God because of this challenge.

Look what Jesus told the disciples: 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:38

So, are you up for the challenge?  What other ways can you think of that you can give during this month?

The Worst Days of My Life

Have you ever had a bad day?  How about a "worst" day or several "worst" days?  Yeah, me, too.  In fact, there are five days that I consider to be the five worst days I've had in my life.  Of course, I pray that the number stops there....at five.  I don't want any more bad days.  None of us do, do we?? However, most likely, I will have more bad days and so will you.

As bad as any of those five days were at the time, none of them would compare to having a bad day on Judgement Day.  On that day, no one will want to have a bad day.  God doesn't want anyone to have a bad day on that day, either.  He wants everyone to go to Heaven to live with Him for eternity.  Sadly, the Bible tells us that this won't be so because many reject His Word and His teaching.  Many reject His Son, Jesus, and His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.

What about you?  Have you given your life to Him?  Have you obeyed the gospel?  Don't let Judgement Day be a day you have to fear.  Don't let it be the ultimate worst day of your life.

Judgement Day scriptures (click on each passage to go to the link at Bible Gateway.  For some reason they are not all underlined, but you can still go to them):  Matthew 25:31-46, John 12:48, Acts 1:9-11, Acts 17:30-31, Romans 2:4-11,  Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9, Hebrews 9:26-31, Revelation 20:11-20, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I'm Still Blessed

Sitting outside a doctor's waiting room last week, I noticed an older man come in the door.  He stopped and talked to someone he knew.  I could hear the conversation clearly.

Woman:  Hi!  How is your wife doing?

Man:  Not very good.....and I'm recovering from a heart attack and a stroke.  But, I'm still blessed!

Then, as he hummed a little tune, the older man went strolling into the waiting room.  Wow!  I was impressed with this gentleman!  His wife isn't doing well, he's just had a heart attack and a stroke, but there he is.....humming a tune and saying he's still blessed.  Without meaning to at all, that gentleman had made an impression on me, and most likely to the woman he had been talking to.

A few minutes later, out of the waiting room came the man again.  He kind of laughed as he came out and said he had left his medications in the car.  He was still humming his tune.

Later on, I had to go in the waiting room for my own appointment.  I glanced over at the man as I walked through the room filled with patients.  Guess what he was doing?  No....he wasn't humming any more.  He was reading the Bible.  It didn't surprise me one bit!  I could tell, just by the few seconds I saw him earlier, that this gentleman had his priorities straight. His faith in God was obvious.  He felt blessed because he knew that God was with him, no matter what.

What an example that man was to me and to others that morning!  It made me think about my own attitude as I go throughout my day, not realizing that others are watching.  That man didn't say anything to me at all that morning, yet his example spoke volumes.

I pray that we all go throughout each and every day shouting out the message for others to hear, "I'M STILL BLESSED!"

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

Plague of the Flies

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they are.

Exodus 8:20-21

This week a cold front hit southwest Oklahoma after having 80 degree weather for some time. The flies, because of their God-given instinct, knew that the cold weather was coming and they have been looking for refuge. Hundreds of flies gathered in our garage, some even making it into the house, all looking for warmth.

I know this situation doesn't nearly compare to the situation the in Egypt thousands of years ago, but it made me think of the 10 Plagues the Lord sent to Pharaoh and his people because of Pharaoh's hardened heart.

We have a fly spray for the garage, but it can't get them all.  We have fly strips in the garage (sideways picture).  But it can't get them all.  So, as odd as it may sound, I even have a fly strip hanging in the kitchen.  I don't care that it doesn't match the decor.  It helps get rid of the pests!  It fills up quickly and we switch it out with another one.  The flies seek warmth, but our house is kept fairly cold (by my husband's choice) and the warmest place is in the kitchen.  They congregate in there.  YUCK!

And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.

Exodus 8:24

This picture is my favorite because it shows many of the flies that have died because the garage is cold. There are probably a lot more out there now (I have checked.  Don't want to let any more in!)  However, my husband has probably already swept them up and thrown them in the trash.

 

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only be sure that Pharaoh does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, and the LORD did what Moses asked: The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Exodus 8:28-32

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have all of the plagues that the Lord sent to Pharaoh and the Egyptian people?  I can't.  These flies have been enough!  But remember, all of the plagues happened because of Pharaoh's hard heart.   He would not let the (Israelite) people go.  What a shame!
 

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.  Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”

Exodus 12:31-32

Only after Pharaoh had lost his first born son, did he finally soften his heart to the Israelite people and allowed them to go.  He had to loose his crops, his livestock, be subject to pain and sorrow.....all of that before his heart was softened and he obeyed the Lord.

Makes me wonder.......in what ways do I need to soften my heart?  In what ways do I allow a hard heart to keep me from doing what the Lord wants me to do?  Perhaps I should example my life - look into my heart and just see what might be getting in the way.

Notice the last sentence in the passage above.  Pharaoh said to the Lord, "And also bless me."  Interesting, isn't it?  Pharaoh finally obeyed God and now asks for His blessings.  Obedience is the key.  God's blessings will be bestowed upon those who are His children.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.  Psalm 119:2 

My plague of flies will go away, but for now, I'm thankful for the reminder to seek God, to examine my heart for any hardness, and to be thankful for God's blessings each and every day.

Stumbling Blocks

\Just a thought for today....

This photo is from Stand on the Rock Facebook page.