For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Genesis 18:19 ESV
Please continue to pray for Donnie and his family. They ask for "peace and comfort and a peaceful transition to Glory with our Heavenly Father."
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Please join me this week in praying for family. Pray that relationships will be strengthened. Also, pray that families will work out any differences that they have and that they will build a bond that can withstand any tribulation. Let's add to this prayer that our Heavenly Father help lead our unsaved relatives to salvation; that He help them in whatever area of their personality that separates them from others (anger, fear, language, narcissism, physical or mental restrictions, etc...) so they may form lasting relationships which will lead them to You.
Please continue to pray for Donnie and his family. They ask for "peace and comfort and a peaceful transition to Glory with our Heavenly Father."
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"Inherit the Wind" is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee which got its title from today's Bible verse, Proverbs 11:29 (I'm quoting from the ESV. They used the KJV back then):
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
David Guzik, from EnduringWord.com, wrote, "To bring trouble to one’s own family is to prepare a future full of storm and difficulty. To inherit the wind is to have a future of storm and trouble."
How often do we make decisions that ultimately bring "storm and difficulty" to our households? How often are those decisions made out of anger, or spite, or haste? It could be a harsh word or an overt action; either of which has the power to fester and manifest into something that's seemingly impossible to overcome. Pray about anything that has come between you and someone else. I encourage you to make amends.
You may also like: "Family Feud" from August 16, 2019
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Please join me this week in praying for family. Pray that relationships will be strengthened. Also, pray that families will work out any differences that they have and that they will build a bond that can withstand any tribulation. Let's add to this prayer that our Heavenly Father help lead our unsaved relatives to salvation; that He help them in whatever area of their personality that separates them from others (anger, fear, language, narcissism, physical or mental restrictions, etc...) so they may form lasting relationships which will lead them to You.
This Bible verse showed up in my search for Bible verses about family so I looked it up on enduringword.com. People sometimes ask, 'who do we pray to?', meaning to God, or to Jesus. My thought was always that we pray to the Father (Luke 11:2) but pray in Jesus' name as Christ tells us to do (John 14:13). I realized that I forget about the Holy Spirit sometimes (Romans 8:26). David Guzik wrote about Ephesians 3:14-15:
To the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Paul directed his prayer to the Father, who is presented as the “planner” among the members of the Trinity. In the Bible, prayer is usually directed to the Father, through the Son, by the empowering and direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Living God is our Father; we are all His children, therefore we are all brothers and sisters. It is my prayer that we treat each other with love and kindness as brothers and sisters should.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV
There is no update on Donnie; please continue in prayer for him and his family.
Please join me this week in praying for family. Pray that relationships will be strengthened. Also, pray that families will work out any differences that they have and that they will build a bond that can withstand any tribulation. Let's add to this prayer that our Heavenly Father help lead our unsaved relatives to salvation; that He help them in whatever area of their personality that separates them from others (anger, fear, language, narcissism, physical or mental restrictions, etc...) so they may form lasting relationships which will lead them to You.
I have so many favorite parables but the story of the Good Samaritan has to be one of my favorite favorites.
There are several different interpretations, but the most obvious is the fact that a Samaritan helped a Jew in a time of need. At that time, Samaritans and Jews despised each other, yet the Samaritan put all of that aside and only saw that a fellow human, a neighbor, was in need. The two people who should have helped the man, the two so-called religious men and fellow Jews, avoided him.
There's a lot more to unpack here, and it's a lot more than I can effectively share in a blog post, so when you have time, I encourage you to read the commentary at EnduringWord.com about this.
I want to ask you to put yourself in the place of the passersby. What would you do? Before you answer too quickly, take a look at this video.
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
What would you do?
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Please join me this week in praying for the strangers that we have opportunities to serve. Pray that the Lord will guide us and that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do His will in being hospitable. Pray for an open and loving heart so that we can show and spread the light within us to everyone we meet.
Today's passage made me think of what's inscribed on a tablet at the base of the Statue of Liberty:
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
(Emma Lazarus, 1883)
All of us in the U.S.A., except for the Native Americans and the Mexican Americans who lived in the Southwest before we took it over, are descendants of aliens in this land. We came from other countries to escape tyranny.
‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:33-34 NKJV
How hospitable were the Christians who displaced the natives here? How hospitable are we to those who come here now to escape tyranny? We as Christians are called to "love one another."
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Please join me this week in praying for the strangers that we have opportunities to serve. Pray that the Lord will guide us and that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do His will in being hospitable. Pray for an open and loving heart so that we can show and spread the light within us to everyone we meet.
I wanted to compare the meaning of hospitality in biblical times with its perceived meaning now, and came across this great explanation of what it meant back then:
Hospitality in the ancient world focused on the alien or stranger in need. The plight of aliens was desperate. They lacked membership in the community, be it tribe, city-state, or nation. As an alienated person, the traveler often needed immediate food and lodging. Widows, orphans, the poor, or sojourners from other lands lacked the familial or community status that provided a landed inheritance, the means of making a living, and protection. In the ancient world the practice of hospitality meant graciously receiving an alienated person into one's land, home, or community and providing directly for that person's needs.
"Speaking biblically, hospitality is treating strangers and friends alike. It is welcoming one another into our homes and lives. Hospitality is a sacred duty"
Found at https://tinyurl.com/2e5hb6hp "What is Christian Hospitality?" Staff writer, May 25, 2018
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines hospitable as:
a. given to generous and cordial reception of guests b. promising or suggesting generous and friendly welcome c. offering a pleasant or sustaining environment d. readily receptive: OPEN
I thought all of this was really interesting, especially the explanation from BibleStudyTools.com. My takeaway is that with all of the changes that have taken place since biblical times, the types of hospitality needed have also changed. Rarely are we going to have a stranger come to our door and ask for food and lodging because he is traveling by foot to his ancestral home, or because he is walking from town to town spreading the Good News of Jesus. But we may come across someone who is struggling to make ends meet, or who is without food or clothing. God very well may bring people into our lives so that we can use our gifts and/or resources to help them. Those are the people we can share God's love with, and the blessings He has given to us. Those are the people who need our hospitality. Keep your eye open for these opportunities to be hospitable to a stranger.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV
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Please join me this week in praying for the strangers that we have opportunities to serve. Pray that the Lord will guide us and that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do His will in being hospitable. Pray for an open and loving heart so that we can show and spread the light within us to everyone we meet.
When I think of hospitality in the Bible, I think of when Jesus sent out the twelve; they didn't need to take anything with them; all of their needs would be provided for by others on their journey (paraphrasing Matthew 10:9-10). I also think of Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV) "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." This is exactly what happened with Abraham (Genesis 18:1-8) and then, subsequently, with Lot (Genesis 19:1-3). I think about these things and understand how important that level of hospitality is throughout the Bible, yet, in present times, we cannot serve in that same capacity. To take in strangers off the street means putting our lives, and the lives of our family members at risk. So I decided to look at how we can as present-day Christians, be hospitable. What I realized was that taking in strangers was just a part of it. There's a lot we can do to fulfill this command and still have the possibility, or the chance to entertain angels.
(Stay tuned).
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Please join me this week in praying for the strangers that we have opportunities to serve. Pray that the Lord will guide us and that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do His will in being hospitable. Pray for an open and loving heart so that we can show and spread the light within us to everyone we meet.
This falls under the heading, laws of kindness, and justice. When you're old(er), how do you want to be treated? Think about what you say and do and then imagine someone being like that toward you. I don't even mean "bad" treatment, just treatment that's different than how you are with someone younger.
For instance, a manager of a restaurant saying to an elderly woman, "Give me a hug, Grandma," or "Aren't you just so cute?!" (Two different restaurants). I hear people use a different voice with older friends and relatives than they do with others. It's as if they assume the person they're talking to won't understand what they're talking about. Be conscious of showing respect.
“You shall stand up before the gray head and
honor the face of an old man, and you shall f
ear your God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:32 ESV
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Please join me this week in praying for the elderly. Let's pray for their spiritual, mental, and physical health. Let's pray for our patience and perseverance in dealing with any special needs they may have.
During this time, many people and businesses need help. Depending on a person's situation or level of pride, they may not ask for help, though. So, I was wondering how do I find those who are suffering in silence? Then, I remembered, "Oh yeah, pray about it." I can't believe that isn't my first response to everything I do, think, wonder about, dwell on, ... I'm working on it; I want to take everything to the Lord. We don't have to go through anything alone. We can take everything to Him in prayer.
Last week I wrote about some of the sad and scary aspects of what's going on in our country, so this week, I want to talk about the good. So many people are reaching out to help others. The mask-making is an incredible example of people seeing a need and taking it upon themselves to fulfill that need.
Another selfless act that seemed to spread was all of the people who gave away their stimulus money to those who were in need or had a greater need.
Facebook groups formed just to share information about navigating unemployment, or receiving stimulus money, or finding a job. Other groups formed to offer emotional support for similar situations like being quarantined alone. Even though everything we've been going through is completely new to all of us, we have pulled together, identified problems, and come up with solutions. We're working together while separated. We're loving and sharing and reaching out using whatever tools we have, and if we don't have the right tools, then we repurpose the old ones or invent brand new ones. We could have let this destroy us, but we didn't. We're survivors!
It warms my heart to see so many do so much for others. I'm so inspired by my mom. She doesn't consider herself someone who is vulnerable. She seems to think that one's mental age takes precedence over one's physical age, therefore she is not "old" and she's only a "senior" when discounts are concerned. When the stay-at-home order first went into effect she was thinking of every possible scenario and how she could help others.
I'm praying for people and their specific needs and for people I don't know in more of a generic prayer, like, those who have been unemployed and haven't received unemployment yet; those who were self-employed and have had no income this whole time, etc. This is something we can all be doing and I'm sure all of you are. Some needs that I'm aware of:
- donations to food pantries/banks
- most charities have seen a drop in donations, so if you're able to give monetarily, consider that
- support local small businesses, restaurants, etc. You can buy gift certificates from most of them, especially if they aren't open to the public yet or are only open with limited services
- Target Dayton needs volunteers to deliver meals
- Handivan (Brookville, Ohio) needs volunteers to drive people to doctor's appointments
- contact neighbors, church family, etc. to see if they need anything, or just call to say 'hi', especially those who live alone.
- make cards for nursing home residents
- pray for God to guide you to someone who needs help, or who needs companionship, and/or someone with who you can share the gospel
‘If one of your brethren becomes poor,
and falls into poverty among you,
then you shall help him, like a stranger or a Sojourner,
that he may live with you.
Leviticus 25:35 ESV
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Please join me this week in praying for guidance as to what we can do, either individually, or collectively, to help those who are less fortunate than we are. Let's pray for God to show us someone in need who we can help.
I get very frustrated with people who get angry or hold a grudge when they never attempt to talk it over with the person. We conjure up situations in our minds that are twice as bad as what would really happen if we just were open and honest with the person causing us grief. If that doesn't work, though, talk it over with a friend. Sometimes, just getting the situation out in the open helps to unburden our hearts. And, of course, pray about it. Ask God for guidance, strength, patience, a softened heart. He hears you and will help you always.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
The Bible verse above means that whatever is most important in your life is reflected in your heart. If that is anything other than Jesus then you cannot count yourself as a Christian because as it says in Matthew 6:24 (NIV): “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money..."
This past week we've been praying to give someone a changed heart. I believe praying for someone's heart is one of the best ways to pray for someone because a person's heart speaks volumes about the person. I talked to the Pastor's wife about a problem I was having with someone at work and she said she would pray to soften his heart. It worked! His whole attitude is different now. I know God can do all things, but I'm still in awe when He works in someone like this. I started asking God to soften my heart as well and it has made a huge difference in how I deal with certain people and even how I handle stress and anxiety. It has made me a more patient person (although I still have a long way to go).
Next week our prayer group will pray about listening to God. Please join us by following along. I'll post a daily reminder to pray on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power
This is really what it's all about. There are really only two laws:
1. Love God.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
By "neighbor" Jesus means everyone; not just the people within close proximity to your residence but all people. I know that around Valentine's Day people spend a lot of time thinking about romantic love, but it's a good reminder to think of the truest most selfless love, that of Jesus giving His life for all of us to give us life.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:43-45 ESV
