Hawaiian-style love

'Da Bible say, "Get love an aloha fo da odda guy, jalike you get love fo yoaself." If you guys do dat, den you goin do everyting God's Rules say.' -- Fo Da Galatia Peopo 5:14, from Da Jesus Book (A Wycliffe Bible translation to Hawaiian Pidgin English)

Put another way, "Loving your neighbor as yourself is the summation of all the law".

As a guy, practicing love towards others is not at the top of my priority list - but I am learning how to love by watching my wife love my son and others. It's beautiful!

How can you 'get love an aloha' for those in your life?

Fellowship of Believers

“And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42 ESV

Fellowship is important! Think of a bible study, small group, prayer meeting, or other gathering of believers that you are tempted to skip this week – and choose to go instead!

Supplying Each Other’s Need

“Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need!” 2 Corinthians 8:14 ESV

Think of someone else’s need that you are able to fill, and FILL IT today!

Opportunity

Be watchful for OPPORTUNITY to show God’s love today! We are surrounded by people who need Jesus.

Those Who Are With Us Are MORE!

Read 2 Kings 6:15-17.

Do you feel like Elisha’s servant, paralyzed with fear, because of a situation in your life? Pray that the Lord will give you a new perspective today!

Bearing His Name

Pause and remember that, as a Christian, you bear the Name of Christ. Is His Name being glorified through you and through your actions, or is it being disgraced? Make an effort today to glorify His name in both large and small ways. Read Colossians 1:10.

Adversity stinks!

I have had several weeks of back and neck pain that could not quickly be remedied by a chiropractor. But, I realized that:

• God's grace is always enough (2 Corinthians 12)
• I am blessed to be able to have access to and be able to afford a chiropractor who can help out
• Much of the world suffers from far worse physical problems... my stinky attitude needed to STOP!

Is anybody else with me on this? If so, go to ariskaday.org and comment!

Ahh, now that's nice...

Rest today (or whatever day you like out of the week) from your normal work. A pastor of a nearby church in Denver put it like this: resting in one and 2-hour pieces (not a full day) is like taking multiple one-hour naps at night instead of sleeping for 8 hours at night.

Remember, Sabbath and rest was made for man! It is God's design!

A message to treasure

"Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." The Message, Luke 12:33-34

Need a hand?

Contact a charity and set up a date to volunteer to help. Be creative and share your chosen organization in a comment.

Act of love

Do something loving for a person who is close to you - flowers, cleaning up after them, spending quality time with...

I'm sorry, did that make you stumble?

Consider if something in your life is OK for you to do ("All things are permissible..."), but tends to offend or distract someone else. If you're not sure what the Bible says about this, read up on Romans 14! Please, post a comment if you have a helpful story to share!

Your Words on my heart

Memorize another Bible verse this week. If it helps, write it on a note card or sticky note and attach to a car dashboard, bathroom mirror, etc.

Sabbath

Remembering that Sabbath was made for man, read some verses (ideas here) on the Sabbath and consider if God would have you do more to honor Him and rest on this day. Since Jesus came, we are not under strict law any more - but we can still benefit from resting and honoring the Lord!

Fosters, Australian for awesome

Offer physical help (mow lawn, shovel snow, rake leaves) for a foster parent.

Share your passion

Take a stand on an issue close to your heart and tell the world (letter to editor, blog entry, etc) in a Christ-like respectable manner.

Words of love

Call a library and volunteer to read to children or illiterate adult.

Your Word. My heart.

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11, ESV

Memorize a Bible verse this week that is relevant to a current life situation of you or someone close to you.

Prayer

Spend 10 minutes praying today. Though 10 minutes goes by in a flash while watching a TV show or talking on the phone, it is a decent challenge to speak with God for 10 minutes!

Resting in the Lord

Find a new way to rest in the Lord today - perhaps by playing an instrument, taking a long nap, serving a family member or playing in a park.

The Gift of Freedom

Happy Independence Day, for our North American brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, remember God's perspective on authority - which is easy to graze over when we are given freedom, but much more of a challenge in countries with fewer freedoms.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."
Romans 13:1-2

Pray for Christians suffering in harsh government situations, and give glory and thanks to God for His gift of the freedoms we have in the U.S.!

The Language of Love

We are commanded to love one another. There are many different ways to both show love and to feel love. Take time today to research the love language of someone close to you, and make an effort to show love to them in a way that they can receive it, not just the way that you know how to show it.

The Tongue

"I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin." Psalm 39:1 NIV

We all know what it is like to say something that we regret, yet cannot take back. Let us make a conscious effort to use our tongue for good, not evil, today. Avoid gossip, negative comments, grumbling and complaining, and speaking out of anger. Seek forgiveness for sin you have committed with your tongue if necessary.

The Basics

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15, NIV

Why DO you have hope? Who IS your God? Why should THEY trust in Him? What HAS He done for us? Are you prepared to answer these questions if an unbeliever were to ask you them today? Spend some time remembering what you believe in, and why you believe it. Be prepared!