Chaos, You've Been Served.

In Genesis 1:2, there was chaos; everything was was formless, empty and dark. But then God uses words in an orderly way to make light, sky and water, then land and plants. Then He makes sun, moon and stars for the light, birds and fish for the sky and water, then animals and man for the land and plants. All God used was words. Chaos reigns in my life when I lose sight of the words of God.
Today's risk: I will create time in my unformed life for God's word to speak to me.

Shame Me Not.

Shame is the leverage that the crowd uses to keep me from taking a risk for God. Yet when I chose to seek Christ's approval, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.... For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" That is what Romans 1:16-17 says.
Today's risk: Live by faith. Know that God's approval of me is more important than the shame anyone else wants to give me.

Unlucky?

When bad stuff happens to me, I find it easy to consider myself unlucky. Yet when I realize that there is a loving God who wants to do something in my heart through every circumstance, I ponder the words of James 1:2-4:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Today's risk: I will consider myself an unfinished work upon whom God is working every day in every circumstance, until I am completely like Christ.

Excuses

When you are facing a risk that makes you uncomfortable, awkward or insecure, any excuse will do. That's what Proverbs 22:13 says: The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!" or, "I will be murdered in the streets!"
Seriously? Who fears a lion eating them if they venture outdoors? Who lets the 6 o'clock news prevent them taking a stroll in their neighborhood?
Today's risk: Drop the excuse (be it lions, or whatever fear that keeps you from obeying God).

New authors

Dear A Risk A Day community,

To keep things fresh and help distribute the load of creating daily risks, there will be new A Risk a Day authors blogging in the next few weeks. We may also be creating some video risk-a-days. Keep an eye out for fresh risks that challenge you daily to follow God and surrender all to Him!

Thanks for letting us be a part of your routine! May the Holy Spirit work through us.

Mmm... porridge

Eat a hearty breakfast to start the day off well :)

The pray-er

As mentioned in the Dangerous Man conference I just attended, often times we say "Well, there's nothing we can do now but pray."

As a community of believers, let's think of prayer first. Check out New Life Church's world prayer center links for places to dive in and be encouraged towards prayer: http://theworldprayercenter.org/resources/links.jsp

As we forgive others

In your heart or verbally, forgive someone today for something they did against you or a family member.

"And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us." Found in Matthew 6

Take a chill pill!

Today, try to slow down from your fast-paced life. Do you really need to be as busy as you are? Are you missing out on rich relationships because of "busy-ness"?

"Do not overwork to be rich;" (NKJV) "cease from your own [human] wisdom. Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when [suddenly] it is gone? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens." Proverbs 23:4-5, The Amplified Bible

If you have a slower-paced life, please comment on the blog on how you do it and what that looks like!

Burdens

Think of someone in your life who needs prayer and encouragement, and be active in praying for and encouraging them. Share their burden, for one day they could very well be assisting you in your low time.

"Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]." Galatians 6:2, The Amplified Bible

What is a burden? As I understand, a burden is not typical work or responsibilities, but those things we can't change and have to carry - the work that a baby takes to raise, the hassle of unemployment while job-hunting and providing for self and others, the hassle of acne, perhaps a mental illness.

Friends, let us encourage and pray like we mean it for members of our local churches and family. The church is not a place to hide in isolation!

Something nice

If you're married, think of your spouse's favorite song and sing or play it for him/her. If you're not married, do something nice for a parent. Just a thought!

Mirth!

Sometime this week, set aside productivity and have fun! It is not Biblical to be always caught up in work.

"A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 17:22, NKJV

Things that make for peace and edify another

When I hear the following verse, I have to think that human interaction is required to edify others.

"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." Romans 14:19, NKJV

Many of us spend daytime on our computers, then go home to televisions. In the interim, we spend time on our cell phones. Instead, let us pursue things that will defuse arguments, make peace and uplift others!

Uplift

Aim to speak many uplifting words today.

Every morning I wake up

Say a little prayer in the mornings as you wake up. Starting the day off with Bible time and/or prayer can really bring peace and God's perspective to the daily grind.

Straining for the prize

Paul gives us advice - forget the past and focus on one thing: winning the prize which God calls us to. What is this 'supreme and heavenly prize' as the Amplified Bible puts it? Well, as a maturing Christian, why don't you do some research? The Online Bible and E-Sword software is a good place to start cross-referencing words, reading commentaries and studying up on the Bible.

"...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

No no no, I'M the greatest!

They came to Capernaum. When [Jesus] was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35, NIV

I've been thinking about this for the last few weeks... and have concluded that I am not a servant of all. The janitors who service my workplace have more of a heart of service than I do in my work! Let us think long and hard as Christians about how we can represent Jesus by serving, wherever our days take us.