Fall in love!

God is good. He is merciful and still just. But He also wants to be friends with you, not just having a master-slave relationship.

The 'big risk' this week is to fall further in love with Jesus! Many of us have a gut-level fear that getting to know Him more will be dry or too challenging, so we don't pursue a better relationship with Him. How far from the truth! Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) It will be a great glimpse of Heaven to get to know God more...

(And if you want to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, check out Campus Crusade's website!)

Show your support

Visit a friend who is sick, or help someone out with a yard or house chore.

Mmmm... rice and beans

Realizing that millions of Christian brothers and sisters live in third world countries, try walking a block in their shoes. Research a country's "poverty food" or staple, and eat that for several days - or even a week - as you pray for that country! You could even give proceeds from your food savings to your local church or overseas missions, such as www.global-act.org.

Don't worry -- you'll get it

As Christians, we know that God has our good in mind (Romans 8:28). And we also know, as Jesus said, that "All that the Father gives me will come to me..." John 6:37, NIV

So then, why are we worried that we will miss something big? Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. Keep engaged in the relationship with Christ, keep "connected to the vine", and realize that He is all. He is good.

Game night!

Attend or host a game night with some friends. A habit of fellowship is better than a habit of isolation!

See that?

See where God is working? If you don't, take the challenge to "draw near to Him", so that He might draw near to you.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15, NIV

A BIG decision

If you have a big decision on your mind, keep giving it to the Lord. Ask Him for wisdom and for His will to be done. Try praying & fasting if you're serious about connecting with God and clearly hearing Him!

Family night!

Spend an evening with family this next week. If you don't have family nearby, spend time with your 'spiritual family' - those in your local church body who you are connected to.

Pray for a ministry

These are hard times for ministries, as downed economic times can result in lower giving. Pray for a ministry that does the work of God, and for the encouragement of its workers in God's fields!

If you want to learn of a ministry I believe is making a Kingdom difference, check out Global Action. Global Action's mission is to "challenge, inspire, and equip believers to become risk-takers for God, who radically impact the world for Jesus Christ"! (A Risk a Day was created and launched from Global Action as an extension of its mission)

Honor your father and mother

Honor your father / mother and show them love. This could be spending time talking on the phone with them, sending them a letter, making them dinner, making a big deal about an event such as their birthday/anniversary.. you choose.

A saving prayer

Think of an unsaved friend in your life now. Pray for them regularly for the next month, and watch for God to work in their lives and yours -- invite more into the joyous fold of God's grace!

Sar-caustic

Make a point to curb sarcasm today to a minimum. Let truth, hope and life.

"Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" (James 3:5, NKJV)

Interested in knowing Jesus personally? Check out Campus Crusade's site on How to Know God here.

Stop striving!

Today, or whatever day you take time to rest (Sabbath), stop striving. Whatever you have been striving for this past week, give it to God, and rest. Sabbath was created for man, not man for Sabbath. So let us enjoy the rest that He gives!

Stop being so stingy! Continued

Thanks, Karen, for your thoughtful comment, shown below:
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I remember having a conversation with our youth group once. I asked them if they would be willing to give something away to someone who needed it. The first example I used was a shirt. All of them said they would give them a shirt because they were sure they had one they didn't wear anymore.

I then asked them if they would give away their favorite shirt. Most of them said no way. I vividly remember one girl getting so upset that I would suggest she give away her Jonas Brother's t-shirt. I think this is a great lesson for all of us. What are we holding on to? Where are our priorities?

Rebuke

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 9:8, NIV

If you know a Christian who is falling further and further into sin, seek the Lord to see if He is calling you to help restore them with a spirit of gentleness.

"...Rebuke a wise man and he will love you."

Stop being so stingy!

If you're anything like me, you wait till something is REALLY worn out, then you get revel in that good feeling when you give that thing away to Goodwill. Ha!

Think how it would honor Christ to trim back on a convenience expense (such as eating out) and spend the money giving something that you know someone else needs. Don't forget to tell them the reason you have hope in Christ if you get the opportunity!

Zzzzzz....

Try replacing some TV-time or similar activity with extra sleep tonight. Remember, the Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies, and we can treat our bodies well by getting good rest.

It's a once a year thing

Think of an upcoming anniversary, birthday or the like where you could especially honor and treat someone. Make some plans -- ahead of time -- and clearly demonstrate your love for that person.

Giving God your best

Give God the best part of your day today - spend it with Him: serving, honoring and worshiping Him. The "best part" of my day is usually the evenings when I get a precious 20-30 minutes to myself while my wife is putting my son to sleep.

...a little to the left

Give a back massage or scratch to someone today!

Become the clean-up crew

Do a good job cleaning up after yourself today. If you run out of cleaning to do for your own stuff, try cleaning somebody's else's stuff, even (or especially) if they don't notice. Now isn't that a challenge!