Friday, November 26, 2010

Thankful

PRAISE THE LORD, ALL NATIONS; PRAISE HIM ALL PEOPLES! FOR HIS LOVING KINDNESS IS GREAT TOWARD US. PSALM 117:1-2

Dear Friend:

Through hardships, sorrow, disappointments and pain the early colonists endured. They stopped for a day and gave thanks to the Lord for His provision.

We to have the opportunity to stop, pause and give thanks. Being thankful to God is our holy act of worship.

Let’s pray: Father in Heaven giving thanks today for you are great. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Give thanks for each person you encounter on this special day.

Thankful for each of you,
Elaine

Monday, November 22, 2010

Thermostat

Matthew 5:15 (New Living Translation)15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

Dear Friend:

Have you heard that the mom(significant person in the home) is the thermostat of the home? Whatever temperature she is at, everyone else follows.

Knowing that, we need to set the thermostat at Jesus, and have it out in the wide open. Don’t cover your light up, let it shine.

If you're feeling rushed, maybe purposely slow down and let this be a reminder to you. At this time of the year everything seems urgent. Is everything really urgent? I like to make a list and purposely say to myself “I’m not going to be like everyone else, I’m going to be walking in Jesus' light, which for me I decided today, is peace.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Let’s pray: Father in heaven I am fixing thoughts on you. Help me to walk in your perfect peace and be the light to everyone in the house. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Setting the temperature,
Elaine

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Contagious

Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Dear Friend:
Attitude is contagious…
Is yours worth catching?
Attitudes are the established ways of responding to people and situations that we have learned, based on the beliefs, values and assumptions we hold.

Attitudes become manifest through your behavior.

Paul was reminding the Ephesians “ You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”
Let’s pray: Father in heaven help me to catch your attitude for Thanksgiving. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Seeking to catch the attitude of God,
Elaine

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (New International Version) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Dear Friends:

Do you remember when Donny and Marie Osmond would sing “I’m a Little Bit Country, I’m a Little Bit Rock n’ Roll?” I may be dating myself, but do you remember when they did their skits pretending to argue. Marie would say she is better than Donny? I just watched a clip on utube and it was so dorky, but funny. The song tells why Donny is Rock n’ Roll and why Marie is country. One line says “but my music makes me whole.”

We all know we have differences, but if you are a full out Christ follower, then you understand that you know what makes you whole. We can have our gifts and personalities inside of each of us. At times two Christian friends or family members can look at each other and react with I’m better than you because….. Sometimes we even react with some fleshly anger. But if the Holy Spirit is inside you, all of the sudden you can just stop this reaction with conviction and say “it doesn’t matter what they are, I’m going to love them.” Differences in our flesh divide us but Jesus’ love conquers those differences.

I go through the verse above and picture the person in my mind that is hard to love and pray “I will be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, dishonoring, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping records of____________.(name the person) In Jesus name. Amen.

Loving God,
Elaine

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Little Pick Me Up

Isaiah 41:10 Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side. I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'

Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Dear Friend:

I don’t know about you but when I read the verse above it was “a little pick me up.”
If you get picked to play on a team, new job, ministry….,do you start doubting after the honeymoon period that maybe the change was wrong?
Don’t doubt, pray!
THERE IS NO NEED TO FEAR. –GOD-

Let’s pray: Father in heaven I need a little pick me up to help me remember that you have a firm grip and place me where I need to be. Thanks, for the reminder, help me to stay strong. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Better,
Elaine