Me:
You know, Lord, that I have long prayed for your light of truth to shine in the darkest corners of our government. But frankly, I was hoping that it would come with a spirit of repentance and reverence–and not with excuses and denials.
God:
My child, this is not the time to stop praying.
Ephesians 5:11 (NIV)
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Per the Bible, no cover-ups.
Every day brings another name accused of sexual harassment or asault. How do you feel about that?
Isaiah 29:15 (NIV)
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”
Suddenly, those who thought their darkest secrets were safe realize that someone saw, someone knows and someone is telling.
And if someone is lying for political advantage or financial gain . . . well, someone sees, and someday, someone may tell. God knows.
Dan West was handing cups of milk to refugees when he realized what people really need–not a cup, but a cow. And that was the start of Heifer International.
“That ‘teach a man to fish’ philosophy is what drove West to found Heifer International. And now, nearly 70 years later, that philosophy still inspires our work to end world hunger and poverty throughout the world once and for all.
Yes, Lord, we want to feed the hungry. But how much better to equip them to feed themselves and then feed others. Physically and spiritually. Amen.
If God had just saved us from our sins, it would have been enough. But he added eternal life.
Dayenu!
Mercy would be enough, Lord.
But you add grace.
Mercy: not giving me the punishment I deserve.
Grace: giving me blessings I don’t deserve.
Lord, it would have been enough if you’d just given me children. But you added grandchildren. Thank you!
Lord, it would have been enough if you’d provided shelter. But you added a furnace to keep me warm. Thank you.
Lord, it would have been enough if you’d given me a job to support myself. But you added friends at work. Thank you.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
All we ask would have been enough, Lord. Thank you for blessings we never thought to ask for.
How do you count your blessings?
There’s a Jewish tradition, part of the Passover celebration, that thanks God twice. Dayenu means “it would have been enough.”
If you fed us in the desert for 40 years,
and never brought us to the promised land,
it would have been enough. Dayenu.
This Thanksgiving, try a little dayenu for yourself.
There have always been homeless men in America. My mother tells how hobos would stop by their Wisconsin farm, and my grandmother would give them a cup of soup.
Many cities have rescue missions that offer homeless men temporary food and shelter—like the Market Street Mission in Morristown, NJ. Since 1889 the Market Street Mission has served the needs of homeless, hopeless and often addicted men. The mission offers “a ‘hand-up’ rather than a ‘hand-out.’”
“As members of His body, the Church, we present the saving power of Jesus Christ to rescue men from the consequences and ultimate penalty of sin and disciple them for victorious Christian living.”
Lord, provide Market Street Mission, and others like it around the world, with the resources they need: workers, space, food, finances and the wisdom that comes only through your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
