Thursday May 24, 2012 thought for the day

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

1-By eating with sinners, Jesus did not condone sinful lifestyles, but confirmed that these people and their lifestyles could be transformed-

2-The pharisees were incensed at Jesus for doing good on the Sabbath but they had no qualms about doing harm and plotting Jesus' death on the very same day-

3-The danger of rigid legalism is that it can delude us in thinking that God is satisfied when we are strict with religious details even if our heart is unmerciful and far from God-

4-All spiritual behavior that aims only at setting ourselves apart from and above others is to be rejected-

5-We live out our understanding of who we are in relationship to God, to one another and to humanity-

 

STRANGE THOUGHT-If the shoe fits, get the other one also-

 

I'VE LEARNED-A father who is all discipline is cold and harsh, a father who is all love is permissive-

 

DID YOU KNOW-The clock at the National Bureau of Standards in washing, D.C., will gain or lose only one second in three hundred years because it uses cesium atoms-

 

5 THINGS I WANT TO KNOW

1-Do our sins inflict pain on God?

2-Why did Old Testament people live much longer than people do today?

3-Did ancient civilizations have modern day diseases such as cancer, heart trouble, aids, etc.?

4-Has God ever appeared as a man to people other than as Jesus?

5-Can we as humans love another person unconditionally?

 

BIBLE TRIVIA-What prophet warned the wicked priest Amaziah that Israel would go into exile?

Yesterday's answer-Daniel 1:1-6

 

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY     Matthew 13:31-35

Stories of Mustard Seed and Yeast

 ³¹ Then Jesus told another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. ³² That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build nests in its branches."

 ³³ Then Jesus told another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub of flour until it made all the dough rise."

 ³⁴ Jesus used stories to tell all these things to the people; he always used stories to teach them. ³⁵ This is as the prophet said:
    "I will speak using stories;
       I will tell things that have been secret since the world was made." — Psalm 78:2

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, the cares of this world often press in on us and weigh our hearts down. It’s not your desire that we carry this heavy load because You are the Burden Bearer. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. There are many situations where we’ve been dealt with unjustly, with unkind words thrown our way. Our typical response; “NOT FAIR!” But Your pattern of returning kindness to those who were hostile toward You serves as a sterling example to us when we’re hurt by other’s words or actions. Our faith is strengthened and our character is sharpened in the torrent of such hurtful circumstances. We must commit them to You and respond in Christian virtue. We invite You to take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for Your power to be released and healing to take place. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and believe.  Amen.

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE LOVE TO SHARE, HEALTH TO SPARE AND FRIENDS THAT CARE!