Respect and Love

Men, your risk today is to purposefully give respect to someone whom you have withdrawn it - your father, the president of your country, your pastor ...

Women, your risk today is to purposefully give love to someone whom you have withdrawn it - your mother, someone you are not on good terms with, the pastor's wife ...

In doing this, we may glorify God, who freely forgives us (John 3:16) and desires that we forgive others.

Taking Every Thought Captive

Make a conscious effort today to reign in your thoughts. Ask for the Lord's forgiveness when you allow thoughts of bitterness towards others, pride, self-pity, or even fear to invade your thought life. Remember that the Lord desires every part of your being, and that includes your mind!

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—THINK about such things!" Philippians 4:8, NIV

Who's YOUR God?

"Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with their mind set on earthly things" Philippians 3:19, ESV

Choose to starve your flesh today. Seek God on what He might have you "fast" from, food-wise, from something as small as your morning dessert coffee to going completely without food for just one day. Take God up on His offer to be your strength - look to Him, not to food.

Take a Hike!

Take a short walk around the block, and be open to whatever the Lord wants to throw at you!

God gets the leftovers? (Continued)

On June 1st, the risk was to give God "that which costs us something" (see it here: http://www.ariskaday.org/2009/06/god-gets-our-leftovers.html).

Judith commented that she found herself giving God the leftovers of her day. She then said, "...So, yesterday, I intentionally gave God valuable time out of my day, a sacrifice that cost me something rather than the leftovers of my day. It was a great time -- I plan to do it again today."

It strikes me that we see God as a chore more often than as a friend. I am eager to please my good friends by spending time enjoying them. If God is my Love, then He should be my joy to be with! His grace covers my humanity, so when I come to Him in a season of being distant, He gladly takes me back with great love.

What a great God we serve!

Try, Try Again

Have you ever failed at something? Is fear of repeated failure keeping you from trying again? Meditate on this verse: "But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced" (Isaiah 50:7). Now, knowing that the Lord God is your help, try again, and see if He doesn't part the waters for you.

It's just a thing....

Is there someone in your life who needs God's love, but you don't know how to open the door to them? Today's risk is to give away something that you value that you don't "need" - perhaps something the other person needs! And see if it opens up a door to conversation that would honor God.

Don't forget to pray about this also - too often we do!

Weep With Those Who Weep

Think of someone who has recently lost a loved one, sent a loved one off to war, failed miserably, or is just plain sad. Send them a quick letter or even a small gift to show them your sympathy.

Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice

Think of a person who has recently had a new baby, been married, graduated, or has accomplished something noteworthy. Send a letter or even a small gift to show that you're rejoicing with them!

You're Worth My Time

Think of one person that you often that you often say "no" to, or owe a phone call to, or are on poor terms with. Choose to spend 10 minutes of quality time with that person. Then pray for him or her, and ask the Lord to give you His heart towards them.

Evangelism!

Ah, what a big word "evangelism" is! When I think of evangelism, I think of volunteer or paid missionaries in some sandy country with hot temperatures talking to people about Christ.

But do you think about your lost neighbors? Do you think about the children who are bored, playing right outside?

The challenge for today is to set aside one "task" on your Saturday to-do list to be available for the work of God. Kids like to play games with adults! You may be as surprised as I was to find out that kids are not as jaded against the Bible as their parents or other adults might be! This means that they may truly have soft hearts to hear about the Jesus' love.

Please, try it my friends! What do you have to lose? One errand put off to another day?

Worldly Treasures All Forsaken

Choose one 'worldly treasure' to omit from your day - a must-see television show, your favorite video game, whatever! Choose to use your time instead for something more worthwhile and lasting.

Casseroles of love

Prepare extra servings when you make dinner today and give it to a person in need - either immediately or as leftovers.

Looking not only to our own interests

Speaking of "looking not only to our own interests" (Philippians 2:3-4), I'd like to bring up what my wife did as an awesome example of being salt and light, "being Christ" to this lost generation. We have some neighbors in the upstairs apartment who seem to be going through a rough patch - the married couple often fights, and they have two small children. My wife heard that they needed a double-stroller, and took the time to find one and get it on Craigslist. They responded with thanks, but thankfully for us, could not repay us.

I say this not to negate her Kingdom treasure for doing this, but to encourage others in helping out neighbors. We have re-learned that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive! Why do we as Americans not believe this truth?

Looking not only to our own interests

Saturday's risk was to "look not only to our own interests". Matty commented that he is desiring to lead with a servant's heart and help teach interns to do the same! He is stationed at Global Action's Ukraine camp, and they are having summer camps that short-term missionaries get to help out with.

Let us pray today for the Global Action Ukraine camp (www.global-act.org) - for many children and orphans to come to know the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection!

They're not better than me.. right?

To follow on from yesterday's risk, this passage has more wisdom:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4, NIV

What does it mean to "in humility consider others better than yourselves"? As a child, I would see someone less fortunate than I, perhaps disabled or retarded, and be tempted to snicker or make light of their situation. However, as an adult, I realize that many of these people have such better perspectives on life than I do! Let us be Christ-like - considering others to be better than ourselves.

Yeah, it's hard. But this is what being Christ-like is about!

Look to Another's Interests

This daily risk is easier said than done. As a community, let's try to embed this passage into our personality, to practice it until it becomes a habit!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4, NIV

Today, when you are thinking of your own interests and preferences, think also of other's interests.

Prayer

Spend some of your best time today praying. He is God, but He is also a Father and a Friend! Let us treat Him like a friend we actually want to spend time with!

Laying aside every weight

God's inspired Word says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." Hebrews 12:1, NKJV

Matthew Henry's commentary interprets weight as "all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world."

As a community, let us think of an "inordinate concern or affection" we have for this life, and cast it aside so that we can better run the race God has for us. For me lately, I would like to lay aside the inordinate concern of finding "just the right car" - in truth, my family does not need two cars, and this has wasted much time and energy in searching! God provides, and I will wait on His timing, not fretting over "things"!

Give the Lord praise!

Give praise to the Lord while in the presence of others. He alone is good - let us remind others of this!

Pray today

Spend some real time praying today.

Abide in Me

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5, NKJV

What does it mean to abide in the Lord? Is it not important that we, as Christians, abide in Him?

The Contemporary English Version interprets abiding as "staying joined to God". John 15:5 says, "If you don't stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire."

Let us then abide with and stay joined to the Lord!

Our God, the Capable One

In Ephesians it is written: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV

Remember that He is capable of far more than we ask or think! Let us not think of our God as less than He is.

"I AM!" says the Lord!

Ahh, now that's tempting...

The Holy Bible says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." James 1:14, NKJV

How are your desires leading you into temptation? What is your plan to flee from temptation so as not to be tempted past your self control? For an example of fleeing temptation, read Genesis 39:1-21. Other relevant verses are 1 Corinthians 6:18 and James 1:12-15, 4:7.

Bitterness

The Holy Word of God says, "The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy." Proverbs 14:10, NKJV

The heart is a funny thing - often, we do not truly know the state of our heart until we say something life-giving or perhaps rude. Today, make an effort to know where your heart is at - listen to what you are saying to people, and give to the Lord areas where your heart is bitter.

Endless research

For those of you who have a home internet connection, you probably know that the internet can provide endless research opportunities. Lately, I have spent way too much time comparing certain products that I think my family "needs". But in truth, we do not need it at all!

Try keeping tabs on your 'internet research', realizing that there could be relationships to build in your very house or neighborhood that would honor God more than your internet surfing does. "For where your wealth is, there will your heart be." (Luke 12:34, Bible in Basic English)

Liberty and food, continued

As a follow-up to yesterday's post: I am reminded that we do have liberty - "all things are permissible, yet not all are profitable" (1 Corinthians 10:23). We are to receive food He gives us with thanksgiving! Yet I also remember this: "Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." (1 Corinthians 8:13, NIV)

What do we have liberty and a clear conscience to do that might make others stumble? It may be a sacrifice, but this shows love that we think of others in our actions.

Receiving His provisions with thanksgiving

A risk from an ARAD community member:
'Here is a risk that will build your faith. If you are a "non-meat eater" "only fish/seafood eater" "vegetarian"...the bible says that in the last day those will forsake meat...when God has said we are to eat all animals and to receive them with Thanksgiving. As long as we bless it we should not be afraid to eat it. That goes for anything. I took Him at His word and have began eating meat again...slowly at first though... I am just not used it..but I have been set free... Along with His word... moderation is always key. Praise God!'

God gets our leftovers?

God's inspired Word says, 'But the king (David) said to Araunah, "No. I've got to buy it from you for a good price; I'm not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice."' (2 Samuel 24:24, The Message) Other translations read "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing".

What do we give God that costs us nothing? Should we start giving the Lord that which costs us something? I know that I often give God my leftovers of time, energy and money, but I want to aim towards giving him the best - the "fatted calf" - not the leftovers.