Day 30 - Blessed

Psalm 1

The scripture talks of how blessed a person will be if they walk in the direction that God planned for them. It gives examples of what will happen to a blessed and obedient man. Then it talks about what will happen to someone who does not believe in God and does not follow God's commands. A blessed man yields great fruit, and is able to bless those around them. They are not wicked, but they are respected and prosperous. They are watched over by God, and they are given the ability to have a great life.

If we live an obedient life, we will also learn how to follow God in a full and righteous way. He will bless our decision to obey Him. There are many times in life when we are given a chioce to do one of two things. We can follow our peers, and get ourselves into trouble. Or we can follow God, and live a better life then we had before. It is a simple choice, and some of the benefits are outlined in Psalms 1. It can be a hard choice, but once it is made, it will be easy to follow.

God, help me to follow the righteous ways. Help me to live a life that is for You and for Your will. Don't let me stray from Your path or commands. I don't want to fall into the wicked. I want to live as You wish me to live. Amen.

Day 29 - Samaritans Believe

John 4:39-42

Jesus showed love to a Samaritan woman and as a result of this, many Samaritans began to believe in the saving grace that Jesus spoke of. They saw that a Jewish man was willing to love a Samaritan. They were not used to people like Jesus talking to them or spending time with them. Jesus spent two days with the Samaritans, and through his words and his love, they began to believe. They said that since they had heard what Jesus said and had seen what Jesus was like, they truly knew that He was the Saviour of the world.

If we show others the love that they deserve, we will quickly draw converts from all over the world. The gospel message is more then just words. It is proving that we can truly love those that we are ministering to. We are to set an example of what Christians are truly like, and show people that God is about love and He is about being by our side at all times. If we cannot set a good example of a Christian, then we are destroying any point of trying to minister to someone. We should follow Christ's example and show love and the message the way He did.

God, show me how I can follow in Christ's footsteps. Allow me to be life Him, and to show others what Christianity is truly about. Amen.

Day 28 - Jesus Clear the Temple

John 2:12-16

Jesus went to Capernaum with his mother, brothers and a few disciples. When it was about time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep, doves and others sat at tables exchanging money. Jesus was outraged and made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area. He got rid of the sheep and cattle, and scattered the coins of the money changers. He overturned tables, and yelled saying: "Get all of this out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Jesus had a righteous anger towards what was going on in His Father's house. He did not like seeing it being used as a place to make money, and profit from burnt offerings and sacrifices. We should also have this same righteous anger towards things in this world that are not as they should. I have a righteous anger towards the sexuality that is plaguing our youth these days. The youth are giving into physical issues, and having sex at young ages of 11 and 12. It is becoming more of pastime then anything else. It is like a game or a "thing to do." Sex has almost completely lost it's true meaning and purpose, which is to unite a married couple, and to allow a married couple to have children.

I believe that each person should have something that they are passionate about. We should take this passion and put it towards bringing a change in the world. Jesus did something about his righteous anger, and He helped to change some of the terrible tendancies in the temple. If we get truly passionate about something, we can easily make a difference and a change.

God, help me to pursue what I am passionate about. Show me how I can change this world, and make it better. Help me to follow Jesus' example and do things that are for righteousness sake. Amen.

Day 27 - Creation

John 1:1-5

"In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

The world was not created through a big bang. We were not formed by monkeys. These are simple facts that I choose to believe. I was created by God, and He has always loved me. The Bible is very clear about telling us who created the world. It is clear to say that God created us, and that he loved us from the beginning. We are not a mistake, we were creatively made by a God who loves us greatly.

Do not let the world get you down, do not let lies enter into your life. Remember that you were created by a loving and gracious God. He brought life into this world, and He wanted everything to be exactly as it is now. Each person and part is important crucial to how life is. God does not create mistakes, He creates beautiful people whom He loves very much.

God, show me to love others they way You love them. Thank you for creating a beautiful world, filled with beautiful people. Thank you for being constant and faithful. Amen.

Day 26 - Great Commission

Matthew 28:15-20

This is the section on the Great Commission: "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The end of Matthew talks about how we should go into all the world and preach the good news. This IS our goal, and we are supposed to work towards fulfilling this goal. We are not to sit around lazily, not doing anything. Instead we are supposed to go to the world, to all the nations, and tell them of the saving grace that God has for our lives. God will be with us and he will be our guide as we daily walk in His presence. He will give us the strength needed to tell the others the good news.

God, help me to follow the Great Commission. Help me to go out into the world and share the gospel with those around me, and even with those I do not know. Amen.

Day 25 - Burial of Jesus

Matthew 27:57-60

A rich man came to Arimathea after Jesus died, asking for Jesus' body. Pilate gave this man what he wanted. This man, Joseph, wrapped Jesus' body in a clean cloth, and put it in a tomb that had been recently cut out for Joseph. The rock was rolled in front of the entrance, and Joseph went away. The tomb was an expensive one, and it was meant for rich men. When Jesus lived on earth, He was not a rich or statured man. He traveled from city to city, and He relied on other people to get Him what He needed. So the fact that Jesus was given such a beautiful place of rest was a powerful statement. It showed that though he lived a humbled life, He still was buried in the way that any esteemed man or king deserved.

We should treat Jesus highly, and we should treat those around us highly as well. Joseph set an example of being selfless and giving a poor but honorable man a proper burial. We should show the same sort of selfless love towards the poor and needy, setting an example to others that we truly care. Jesus deserved a proper burial, and the poor but loving people of this world also deserve to be treated properly. It is our duty to treat others as we would have them treat us. We should also use God as our support, giving us the guidance needed to treat others the way He desires us to.

Dear God, help me to set an example of how people should treat others. Allow me to use the example of Joseph and his selflessness as a setting point to how I should treat those around me. Amen.

Day 24 - Jesus Anointed

Matthew 26:6-13

Jesus was visiting a friend when a woman came to him and poured expensive wine all his head. The disciples became upset and asked why she had wasted such expensive perfume. The perfume was worth an entire year's wages, and the woman had obviously worked hard for such a possession. Jesus became upset with the men, asking them why they were so upset about what she had done. He said that what she did was beautiful and he told her she would be remembered for her selfless act.

We should also be like this woman, willing and ready to give everything we have to God. The woman gave up her most valuable possession, her perfume. We should also be willing to give up whatever is our most valuable possession. It can be tangible, but it can also be a mindset or a way of living. God deserves all of us, not just part of us. We need to give up everything and follow Gid. He will honor it, and we will live fruitful and good lives.

God, help me to be like this woman. Give me the will-power to do everything in my strength for You. Help me to lay down what is hindering me from fully devoting my life to You. Amen.

Day 23 - Be Ready!

Matthew 25:1-13

The parable of the ten virgins talks of ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and the other five were wise. Those who were foolish did not put oil in their lamps, but the wise put oil in jars to go along with them. The virgins fell asleep and at midnight when the bridegroom came, the wise virgins trimmed their lamps and lit their lamps. The other virgins whined about not having oil, and had to go buy some for themselves. The foolish ones missed the bridegroom, and missed the wedding banquet. The virgins who were ready got to go to the wedding banquet. The bridegroom told the foolish ones that he didn't know them. The passage of scripture ends by saying: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

There it is, plain and clear: the Bible TELLS us to be ready. Christ could be coming any day, and we need to be prepared. We need to walk righteous lives and we also need to help those around us believe in God and understand that He is ready to save everyone from their sins. If we are not prepared, the opportunity will pass by us. We need to keep watch, because we will not know when Christ comes. Being ready, and having our hearts prepared will give us the step up needed to get ready for the second coming. Not only does this prepare us for the second coming, but it also prepares us for anything that may come our way. We will be ready to minister to others, and we will be ready to do all that God wishes for us to do.

God, help me to be ready, and to prepare my heart and mind for all that you have planned for me. Don't let me be found unprepared. Amen.

Day 22 - Spiritual Emphasis 2

Proverbs 31

This week we had Spiritual Emphasis days. Today was the second of the two days. Yesterday I spent a lot of time pouring into the lives of my friends: praying for them, crying with them, loving them. But today God had something specific He wanted me to hear. I went up for prayer, asking for direction and purpose in my life. I recieved a lot of powerful prayer, and then the scripture Proverbs 31 was spoken over my life.

Proverbs 31 talks about a woman of noble character. It talks of how beautiful she is, what duties she follows through every day, and how she has a heart for God. It talks about how she loves others, and how much she loves her husband and children. The scripture also talks of her character. She is a wise and faithful woman, wise, gracious, loving. Her character portrays and real love for God.

For years I have struggled with beauty and worth. When I was younger, people spoke a lot of lies into my life. Telling me I'm ugly, unwanted, and that I will never amount to anything. But God has really been revealing His love for me lately. He has given me people in my life who tell me I'm beautiful, loved, and worthy. When Proverbs 31 was spoken over my life, it completely broke me down. I realized that I serve a God who LOVES me. He looks past my flaws, and He focuses on my beauty and worth.

Dear God, thank you for creating me. Thank you for giving me the gift of life. Help me to follow your ways and to help build others up and not tear them down. Continue to help me as I find out my worth, and see my beauty. Amen.

Day 21 - Fig Tree

Matthew 21:18-22

In the morning Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. He saw a fig tree but found that it only had leaves on it. He said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" After He said this, the tree withered. The disciples were amazed, and wondered why the fig tree had withered so quickly. Jesus said this in response: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Again, Jesus touches on the topic of faith. He makes it known that if we want something, we just need to ask for it, and it will be given to us. Once we believe in something, God will bless us abundantly, knowing that our hearts are open and ready to receive. Believing will become second nature to us, and we won't be bothered with fretting about where our next bill payment will come from. Knowing that God has a great plan for us, and will help us if we have faith in Him gives us the motivation to follow Him. God wants to do wonderful things in our lives, and we need to open our hearts up to that.

God, build my faith. Keep me following You, and allow me to be open with my beliefs. Keep wonderful things happening, and help me keep my heart open to you. Amen.

Day 20 - Vineyard Workers

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus spoke of the parable of the vineyard workers. A landowner came and hired men early in the morning to work in his vineyard. He offered them one denarius for their work, and away they went to work. Later on he found more people and he offered them the same pay for working. He sent those away to work. A few hours later he went out and found more people willing to work. He offered them the same wages, and sent them to work. He repeated this again a few hours later. When evening came, he paid each of the men one denarius. Those who were hired first expected more, and complained to the owner. The owner told them that it was his money, and he had a right to pay what he wanted. He gave the workers what he promised, and in that he kept up his part of the bargain. The portion of scripture ends with: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Often we think that we deserve more, just because we work harder then anybody else ever does. At church if we put in more hours working, for example, in the nursery, we expect to get more recognition then someone who has only worked 2 hours in the nursery. Life is not all about "fairness." Rather life is about sacrifice and about doing what is expected of you. Those who are selfless and do what is asked of them will receive the most in the kingdom of God. They are ones who put their lives on the line, and will do anything to further God's kingdom. Those who stand back and expect everything to go their way will end up suffering and getting hurt, because life does not end the way we always want it to.

God, help me to be selfless and know that those who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first. Help me to put others first, and to surrender my life to you. Help me focus less on "what is fair" and instead focus on giving You the glory in everything I do. Amen.

Day 19 - Little Children & Jesus

Matthew 19:13-15

"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."

Little children are a precious gift from God. While on earth, they have a heart of gold. Their biggest concern is if they will allowed to play at the park, and if their mom will allow them to have a cookie after dinner. These children generally understand the concept of God, and do not let what others say stand in their way. They are open, honest and loving. Jesus wanted to see these children, He knew that they were important. He didn't want the disciples to stop them from coming, because He knew that the children deserved His time just as much as anybody else did.

I also believe that children are very important. It saddens me when I hear people aborting babies, or abusing their children. I love working with kids, and I make it my goal to teach them about God. I try to use opportunities to share God's love with them, knowing full well that these little children will accept this love openly. Children are very receptive and are always willing to learn.

God, help me to reach the children around me and to show them how You feel about them. Keep my heart pure, and allow me to think as a child does. Don't let worries of this world stop me from having a childlike attitude. Amen.