What can I do?

We all know (hopefully) that it's better to give than to receive, so why is there so much want in the world? Are we all doing our best, giving joyfully and selflessly as Jesus taught us?
     This time of year, we maybe think about it more than we do the rest of the year, which is fine, but it's my prayer that we start a momentum that carries on into 2020.
     I really love my church. Just this past weekend, we held our annual car clinic where church members worked on cars for those in our community who maybe can't afford an oil change and are unable to take care of their vehicles themselves. We check windshield wiper fluid, tire pressure, turn signal bulbs, etc. and the youth vacuum the cars and clean the windows. While people wait for their cars they have the opportunity to find some gently used items for themselves or others. We provide food and haircuts and nail painting while the people wait on their cars. We minister to these people and talk to them, get to know them, and love on them. It's an amazing experience for everyone, those giving and those receiving.
     We're also collecting food to give the needy for a Thanksgiving meal, coats and other items for Target Dayton, filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We're sending out missionaries to Peru and the Dominican Republic.
     I don't say all of this to boast but rather to show that there is so much each of us can do to touch the lives of those who are less fortunate. We can't all be missionaries, but we can reach out to someone and simply listen to their story, have a cup of coffee with them, say a prayer with them. If you can't give financially, maybe you can donate items that you no longer need. If you have no time, money, or anything like that, you can become a prayer warrior for those in need. There's always something that needs to be done, someone who needs help. Look around you and see what you can do. It will warm your heart and leave a positive impact on those you touch.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard 

in this way we must help the weak and 

remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

A loving gift

Have you ever been truly poor? I have. We did well to just get by. Looking back there are a few places we could have cut back and other places where we made bad decisions. We robbed Peter to pay Paul and used credit cards to get us through particularly bad months (which just made things worse). We spent $20 a week on groceries.
     I wasn't accustomed or prepared to be so poor and honestly didn't know how we would ever survive, but we did, of course, often due to the kindness and generosity of others. Since I've been there, I can empathize with those I meet who are in need. This time of year is especially difficult. You want to be as "normal" as possible for your children and have a big meal for Thanksgiving and gifts under a tree for Christmas.
     One Christmas I had been saving change in order to be able to buy a Christmas tree. A live tree at that time was $20 (the equivalent of a whole week of groceries) so we were making sacrifices here and there in order to buy one.
     One day my brother and his wife drove up with a Christmas tree on the roof of their car. It took a moment to sink in what they were doing as they loosened the rope. My heart felt like it could have burst at that moment. I have never felt so loved. That was such a thoughtful gift, purchased with love, and given freely.
     Jesus has given all of us the ultimate gift. The price was paid with His blood and it is given freely to anyone who accepts Him. Those of us who've accepted this gift should be sharing the Good News of it to those in need. One way to reach out to people is to give freely of ourselves and help wherever we can. Be generous. Think outside the box and do something that shows Christ lives in you.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. 

Therefore I command you, ‘

You shall open wide your hand to your brother, 

to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Chronological Reading Plan Week 51

Chronological Reading Plan

Week 51
351. Philippians
352. 1 Timothy
353. Titus
354. 1 Peter
355. Hebrews 1-6
356. Hebrews 7-10
357. Hebrews 11-13

You shall be perfect

As we wrap up this week of praying for the will and strength and encouragement to love our enemies, I just want to say that I hope it has turned your life around as it has mine. It really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be because I had God's help. This has also reinforced in me the desire to pray about everything. I don't need to make difficult decisions on my own. I don't need to go through life blindly. God is there for me and with me always. Let's lean on Him together and see where He takes us <3
     I need to add though, that while this has been an absolutely amazing week spiritually and for seeing God work through me, it has been an extremely difficult week as I said earlier. The enemy has been after me every single day. He fills me with doubt. He distracts me by filling my daily life with insignificant trials and tribulations. I confess that I've had to resort to taking an anti-anxiety pill a few times because it's gotten so bad. But most of the time I've been able to just breathe deeply, step away from the situation, pray and/or read God's word, and I get through it. Remember that there's always a spiritual battle going on, but you will be triumphant because you belong to Christ.

Remember this:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors* do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors* do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.**

Matthew 5:46-48

*Back then, tax collectors were the ultimate bad guys.
** I can't imagine being perfect, but if Jesus wants me to work on it, I will. No one is without sin, except Jesus, but we can work toward having His attributes.

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance, strength, wisdom, and courage for each of us to love everyone as Jesus commands us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Do all in love

Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

The real enemy

It never fails that when I start to try to improve myself to be a better image-bearer for Christ that the real enemy comes after me with a vengeance. He tries to distract me from my purpose with either something shiny (like new material possessions) or with insignificant but completely frustrating trials. This week he used both tactics. That's how I know I'm on the right path, though. For him to put so much effort in me, I feel like I'm leveling up, so to speak, in my ambition to become the person Christ wants me to be. I get goosebumps thinking about it!
     How's your week in prayer going so far? I can tell a real difference at work. With me changing my attitude, and praying for both of us, and trying to find likable aspects in the other person, we have been getting along better, even talking a little bit and it's just been an amazing transformation. I pray that you are seeing changes in your own life. The power of prayer is just so amazing! I honestly cannot understand why everyone doesn't pray.
     I found the above image on Pixabay; it was created by Joan Cabras. I know I give credit on the photo's properties but feel like it needs to be included in the body of text here, also because this took some thought. I've said this before, but it continues to amaze me: the outcry for tolerance in this country is almost deafening, yet those same people spread hate and shame others, and are extremely judgmental. They're nearly impossible to deal with because they talk out of both sides of their mouths. So, even though it isn't January 1st (we can make resolutions at any time of the year after all), I thought we could meditate on these things in our pursuit of loving everyone.
1. Delete hate
2. Practice tolerance
3. Demand wisdom
4. Remember compassion/empathy
5. Replace fear with love

Beloved, let us love one another, 

for love is from God, 

and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance, strength, wisdom, and courage for each of us to love everyone as Jesus commands us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Burning coals

To the contrary, 

“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; 

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; 

for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Romans 12:20 ESV

According to John MacArthur, the "burning coals on his head" refers to an ancient Egyptian custom where a remorseful person would carry a pan of burning coals on his head to represent his burning pain of shame and guilt.*

David Guzik writes that it could refer to one's burning conviction as a result of being treated kindly by a perceived enemy.**

Either way, I believe it softens the heart of both parties.

* MacArthur, John (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible, New King James version.
     Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN.
** Guzik, David (2018). Enduring Word. Bible commentary app. To make a donation of support to Enduring Word, click here.
(I do not receive affiliate money)

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance, strength, wisdom, and courage for each of us to love everyone as Jesus commands us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power