Cooperation - Thursday, August 09, 2012 | Daily Word

Cooperation - Thursday, August 09, 2012 | Daily Word

Cooperation

I JOIN IN A SPIRIT OF LOVE AND COOPERATION WITH ALL PEOPLE.

Nature teaches me the value of cooperation. When I see bees in a hive producing honey, ants working tirelessly to accomplish their task, and animals instinctively teaming to care for their young, I witness natural collaboration.

What a wonderful lesson as I remember I live in partnership with all beings. I embrace our oneness and share in a spirit of cooperation and love. I remember that beyond our differences, lies the truth that we are one, sharing this space and time on our beautiful planet.

I envision all people working together for the common good. Through our collective consciousness, we create a better world.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.—2 Corinthians 6:1

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread

Winners And Losers

August 8, 2012 — by Dave Branon

• Subscribe on iTunes
• Play MP3 (Mobile)

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-12

In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. —Philippians 2:3

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 37-39

As the NFL playoff game ended and the Green Bay Packers celebrated their victory over the Chicago Bears, my daughter Lisa noticed that her little girl, 4-year-old Eliana, was crying. That seemed odd, since neither of Eliana’s parents particularly cared who won the game.

When Lisa asked Eliana why she was crying, she said, “I feel sorry for the Bears. They look so sad.”

Can we learn something from a preschooler about compassion? In a world where winning is so important and losers get rejected, forgotten, and maligned, we need this reminder: People need compassion. When we see others struggling with a loss are we willing to shed tears with them, put our arms around them, and offer to help?

A number of Scripture passages challenge us to treat others with compassion. Philippians 2:1-3 tells us to think of others above ourselves, looking out for their interests—not just ours. First Peter 3:8-12 reminds us that compassion means treating others “as brothers,” and Colossians 3:12-15 says that mercy, kindness, and humility are marks of those God has redeemed.

Look around you. See anyone going through a difficult loss? Go beyond feeling bad for them. Reach out with compassion and God’s love.

Lord, grant me a heart of compassion
So burdened for others’ needs,
That I will show them Your mercy
In attitudes, words, and deeds. —Fitzhugh

One measure of our likeness to Christ is our sensitivity to the suffering of others.

Healing - Wednesday, August 08, 2012 | Daily Word

Healing - Wednesday, August 08, 2012 | Daily Word: "Healing
THE HEALING LIGHT AND LIFE OF GOD FLOW THROUGH ME NOW.
Ease is more natural than dis-ease, and health is more natural than illness. Whenever I have a healing need, I relax, release my fears, and allow the healing light and life of God to flow through me. I affirm the power of God within to heal whatever needs to be healed.

Healing light fills me, permeating every cell and fiber of my being. God is greater than any appearance of illness, and healing light breaks forth as I affirm the power of God working in and through me now. First in mind, then in body, my healing springs up quickly.

Moment to moment, I give thanks for the healing light and life of God within me.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly.—Isaiah 58:8"

'via Blog this'

Free - Tuesday, August 07, 2012 | Daily Word

Free - Tuesday, August 07, 2012 | Daily Word: "Free
I AM FREE TO BE A HEALTHY, WHOLE AND FULFILLED CREATION OF GOD.
I stop myself from thinking or saying, “I can’t” or “If only I could.” Instead of wishing circumstances were different, I become fully aware of my freedom to be all I can be, right now.

In Truth, I am free to live as a divinely supported, strong and whole creation of God. No circumstance or person can deny this to me. I recognize myself as a spiritual being and live in that Truth.

Embracing my freedom is a matter of choice. I reach for my heart’s desire and do not let fear of failure stop me. I choose to believe that I can, rather than assuming that I cannot. I choose to believe in what God can do through me as a free, unlimited being.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!—2 Corinthians 5:17"

'via Blog this'

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread

Always

August 6, 2012 — by Joe Stowell

• Subscribe on iTunes
• Play MP3 (Mobile)

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. —1 Thessalonians. 4:17-18

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 31-33

I love the words alwaysand never. They hold so much hope! I would like to think that I couldalways be happy and that life would never fail me. But reality says that I won’t always be happy and that the things I hope would never happen just might. So, as good as these words sound, they struggle to live up to their potential—unless you are thinking about the promise of Jesus’ presence.

To a group of troubled disciples who feared facing life on their own Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20). The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus said, “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’” (Heb. 13:5-6). And the apostle Paul assures believers that after death, “We shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). How encouraging!

No matter how scary our journey may feel today or how hopeless our future may look, the assurance of His never-failing presence can provide us with the courage and comfort to make it through. And best of all, when this short life is over, we will always be with Him. No wonder Paul encourages us to “comfort one another with these words” (v.18).

Jesus said He’s always with us,
He will never leave our side;
Someday we’ll be in His presence
Where forever we’ll abide. —Sper

Confidence in God’s presence is our comfort.

Open - Monday, August 06, 2012 | Daily Word

Open - Monday, August 06, 2012 | Daily Word: "Open
I AM RECEPTIVE TO SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING AND INSPIRATION.
As I start my day in quiet meditation, I am centered and aware of the activity of God within me. I ask for guidance and understanding and am open and receptive to it.

Flashes of insight come to me throughout the day, and I smile with each realization. Often I am surprised at the way answers come. I hear a song lyric that inspires me or a friend mentions a helpful book or resource. Divine ideas seem to come from out of the blue. I realize again that when I ask, I receive.

When I am ready, my prayers are answered. I remain open to God, listening with heart and mind, and knowing I will recognize that which emanates from the Divine.

Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.—Psalm 119:18"

'via Blog this'

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread

Text Size: Zoom In

Totally Clean

August 5, 2012 — by Bill Crowder

• Subscribe on iTunes
• Play MP3 (Mobile)

Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 1 John 1:1-10

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9

Bible in a Year:
Isaiah 28-30

A friend was updating me on his past year—a year in which he had been receiving ongoing medical treatment for cancer. The smile on his face was a powerful testimony to the good news he had just received. He said that at his one-year checkup the doctor announced that the test results all pointed to one thing: “You are totally clean!” What a difference two words can make! To my friend, totally clean meant every trace of the disease that had threatened his life only months before had been wiped from his body. We rejoiced to hear that he was totally clean!

King David, after his moral failure with Bathsheba, longed for a similar thing to happen in his heart. Hoping for the stains of his sin to be washed away, he cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). The good news for him and for us is that our sins can be taken care of. When we need cleansing, John’s familiar words bring hope: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

We can’t cleanse our own hearts; only God can do that. If we confess our sins to Him, He promises to make us totally clean!

Search me, O God, and know my heart today
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. —Orr

Confession to God always brings cleansing from God.