Acts of Kindness

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birthday, do you wondered what kind of gift you give a Savior King who has everything?

The challenge for the month of December is to perform at least one random act of kindness each day. This is in addition to your usual holiday traditions. Some suggestions are:
* open doors for others
* let someone in front of you in line
* pay for the person behind you in the drive thru
* make baked goods for public servants
Pray God would show you everyday opportunities for acts of kindness, and that He would reap all the honor and praise.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. If this is true and you commit to this challenge, you will have started a good habit for the year 2011. Will you accept the challenge?

Getting Focused

Weekends are for getting focused!

 

Reflect and Focus

Soon after we gobble the turkey, our thoughts turn to Christmas. What do you think about? Do you worry about finding the perfect gift at the best price, or completing the long gift list? Do you fret about getting the house cleaned and decorated before parties and guests arrive, or what to fix for Christmas dinner? Do you feel tense just thinking about the coming month?

Take this last weekend in November to sit and reflect on what Christmas is really about. Yes, it's Jesus' birthday, but just like we were born with a purpose so was He. He came to earth to live a life of service, to bring forgiveness and life through His death and resurrection. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Shouldn't our Christmas celebration acknowledge His birth, serve others in His name, share the good news, and offer forgiveness like we've experienced ourselves? If we'll stop, ask, and truly listen, He will give wisdom and strength to focus on what He finds important. Then our Christmas season will be joyful.

Reasons for Thanksgiving

There are many reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Here are just a few...
A - America
B - body of believers
C - comfort, cross
D - Daddy
E - encouragement
F - forgiveness, family & friends
G - grace
H - hope
 I - instruction
J - joy in Jesus
K - knowledge, kindness
L - laughter, love, life
M - mercy
N - near
O - omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient
P - patient provider
Q - quiet time
R - redeemer
S - Savior
T - trustworthy
U - understanding
V - value
W - Word
X - "X"cellent creator
Y - yoke (His is light)
Z - zillion more blessings to name

Thankful

With the month of November come thoughts of thanksgiving. We stop to count our blessings and say "thank you" for our many freedoms. Why does it take a holiday to remind us to do what we're commanded?
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving..." Psalm 95:2

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." Hebrews 12:28

The challenge for this month and every month after is to give thanks for at least ten different things each day. Will you accept the challenge?