One small step

Take a small step and help out a neighbor today. "Can I do something easy and convenient for me?" you might ask? Well, yes, but you're more likely to win a friend and perhaps tell someone the Good News if you actually serve your neighbor with something of value.

1 Chronicles 21:24, NKJV Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”

Spur one another on

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24, NIV

How can you encourage a friend or family member toward love and good deeds? Consider becoming a humble servant to friends and family - perhaps they will be more encouraged toward these things when you love them deeply, show them respect and serve them.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 33:10-12, NIV

Today's risk is to guard your heart against the fear of man, war, natural disasters, famine, bad economies... "...the plans of the Lord stand firm forever" Pray for your country today, and remember to fear the Lord above man's plans (Psalm 33:18-19) He is our Rock, not anything or anyone else!

Simple love

As a simple way to show Christ's love, buy an item for the person behind you in line. Perhaps their taco, their cup of coffee or a pack of gum. Don't forget to have an answer ready for the joy you hold - a simple God Bless can help in a small way also!

Time with the fam

Spend some time with your family - if you're like me, you have lots of candidate activities that you could draw time from that are less useful than family time.

Not gone yet

If you have hope in Christ and know someone late along in life who does not have the hope of Christ, consider witnessing boldly to that person. Yes, there is always the risk of turning someone away, especially if they've turned God away up to that time. But isn't it worth trying in order to see that person relish in God's joy with you in heaven?

A book I am sending to an older relative is Billy Graham's "The Journey". It is thoughtfully written as an easy and straightforward read about the Gospel, the sin nature and how to accept Christ. Leave a blog comment with your ideas for 'winning souls'!

Proverbs 11:30b in the New International Version says: "...he who wins souls is wise".

Encouragement

Take some time to encourage a friend today.

Haiti relief

Help be a part of bringing relief to Haiti in God's name! A Risk A Day's creator, Global Action, is shipping one container filled with medical assistance from Sweden to Haiti. If you'd like to be a part of what God is doing to bring hope and disaster relief to a country that needs to hear about God, check out http://www.global-act.org/.

If you can't or have other plans for your finances, please pray for Haiti's recovery and for Christ's name to be known among the Haitians.

Lighten your monthly load

Today's risk is to work on reducing or eliminating one of the monthly charges you have. This might be refinancing or paying down a recurring charge, lowering your Netflix or cable TV plan, lowering cell phone minutes. Perhaps you can do something fun with the money - help someone in your local church, pay down some debt, get flowers for a loved one... :)

If you have success with this, please post as a comment for the community to be encouraged!

Informed

Spend some time getting informed about the world today, remembering to pray where the Spirit leads. My belief is that Christians need to be well-informed in order to be culturally relevant and not appear ignorant of the current events in the world.

Haiti

Pray for the country of Haiti today. Pray for physical relief - food, shelter, medical care - and for the hope and peace of Christianity to penetrate the hearts of the survivors. If you have the financial ability to help out, I would suggest this page for a list of Christian-based relief organizations who can provide immediate and long-term help in the name of Jesus.

Nation of Isolation

"A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment." Proverbs 18:1, NKJV

"According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day... in a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube." Reference

"The average child 8 to 12 plays 13 hours of video games per week..." Reference

Yikes. Entertainment has a huge hold on our nation. Pray today against this hold - especially for Christians entranced by entertainment - and aim to have a healthy and low consumption level yourself.

Comments?

Hey! Who turned out the lights?

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105, NKJV

Delve into the Bible today, especially if you're not sure the path you're on or where your next step is.

When you said that, did you know it hurt?

One of the best pre-marital advice my wife and I received from friends was this:

"When you feel hurt by your spouse, assume misunderstanding and immediately seek to resolve". Too often, we assume that someone meant to hurt us without talking it through with them - we find out later that they did not mean it a certain way, or were hurting back because they felt hurt to begin with. "...You should have known how I would feel when you brought up that issue!"

Remember, love "always protects" 1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV

Protect those you love, and take the effort to work out relational challenges. With marriage, the covenant is meant to last until death - it's worth it to work things out!!

Self-seeking missiles

After a long day at work, the last thing my flesh wants to do is to come home and serve. I think I'd prefer a fanfare of care about how my day went, someone to prop my feet up, get me slippers and a laptop and then rub my head.

I don't doubt my wife would go to these lengths for me if it really mattered - because she loves me, and often spurs me on through her selflessness to love her back.

"[Love] is not self-seeking." 1 Corinthians 13:5, NIV I have found what when I seek my wife's best first, she fills in the gaps where I need help and support. Try it!

ARGGGH!! That's the fourth time you've done that!

How many times has a loved one done something to offend you? How often does your sister-in-law repeat that annoying habit around you, or your brother forget about common courtesy?

Love keeps no record of wrongs. Period. (1 Corinthians 13:5, NIV) To me, that means that I have to consciously stop counting how many times someone does something wrong towards me. When I keep count, my heart builds up a case why it is okay to be frustrated, angered or annoyed at that person. Forgetfulness is one of the great traits of love. Practice it.

For a related passage, check out Matthew 18:21-22.

Love doesn't strut

"Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head..." 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Message

Ever feel like flaunting what you have when others may want that thing? Love does not boast, does not gloat, does not rub things in... love does not envy, it rejoices with someone who has that thing while appreciating what God has already given.

Love

"Love is patient, love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4a

Have a friend who is ... just slow? Or a family member is making an effort but just can't remember to leave the toilet seat down? Or a spouse who has gained weight over the years?

Love is patient. Love is kind. Practice it.

Don't be a gong

"If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1, The Amplified Bible

This week, we'll focus on 1 Corinthians 13, a significant chapter in the Bible on love. If you have some time in your day, read the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13. Remember God's love for us through reading His word - perhaps some Psalms or the book of John.

Please God!

As a Christian, do you want to please God? Check this out:

"Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Romans 8:8, NIV

Today's risk is to think of and get rid of ways the sinful nature controls you - "flee temptation, resist the devil"...

Prayer

Take a risk and surrender more of your time this month to speaking with the Lord. I found this article to provide some useful perspectives on prayer: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/19336-why-we-dont-pray