May 2006
 
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Words for Thought
Since April 1997


Devotion

To Give or Not

Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11

If there is a poor man . . . in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted. Deuteronomy 15:7 (NIV)

IN the median of a busy intersection stands a man in shabby clothes and run-down boots. His cardboard sign reads, "Unemployed veteran. Hungry -- will work. God bless." Every Saturday as I run errands and every Sunday on my way to church, I go through this intersection. On nearly every trip I see someone begging.

The director of a mission in New York City once told me that giving cash to the homeless only enables them to stay on the street. If I give this man money, will he use it to buy bananas or beer, a coat or cocaine? I give money to shelters and programs that help drug addicts and alcoholics reenter society. So why do I still feel hardhearted, averting my eyes as I pass this urban scarecrow?

In the scripture above I cannot find any test the poor have to pass before I am commanded to "give generously." There is no requirement that they be honest, hardworking, worthy, or even thankful. Could it be that God's admonition to give is sometimes more about my maintaining a compassionate heart than about what the recipient will do with the money? Mary Beecher (Maryland, U.S.A.)

Prayer:

Dear God, help us be good stewards of all you have provided. Give us discernment to know how and when to give, and keep our hearts open to our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Thought For The Day:

Giving is about compassion, not about judgment.

. . . God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

For additional study on tithing see: TEN REASONS WHY I TITHE

Special Thanks to Upper Room for this Devotion this month,

 

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Memory
Verses

"For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11 NKJV . . . God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7  KJV
. . . stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Job 37:14 KJV

Quotes for Thought

"To meet Jesus is to look yourself in the pocketbook, which is the most unmistakable way of looking yourself in the heart."
Ross  J. Robert
"Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live. The noblest thing a man can do is, just humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give."   
David Livingstone
"I fail or succeed I my stewardship of life in proportion to how convinced I am that life belongs to God."
Pearl Bartel

Words for Thought


 


Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38

Humor

Overwork
For a couple years I've been blaming it on lack of sleep or too much pressure from my job, but now I've found out the real reason that I am always tired. I'm overworked.
      
      The population of this country is 237 million. 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work.
      
      There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work.
      
      Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work.
      
      2.8 million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 16.2 million to do the work.
      
      14,800,000 people work for State and City Governments. That leaves 1.4 million to do the work.
      
      At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
      
      Given that there are 1,211,998 people in prisons, that leaves just two people to do the work, you and me.
      
      And you're sitting at your computer reading jokes!

Handy Tips
O
ld telephone books make ideal personal address books. Simply cross out the names and addresses of people you don't know.
      
      Fool other drivers into thinking you have an expensive car phone by holding an old TV or video remote control up to your ear and occasionally swerving across the road and mounting the curb.
      
      Avoid parking tickets by leaving your windshield wipers turned to fast wipe whenever you leave your car parked illegally.
      
      No time for a bath? Wrap yourself in masking tape and remove the dirt by simply peeling it off.
      
      Apply red nail polish to your nails before clipping them. The red nails will be much easier to spot on your bathroom carpet. (Unless you have a red carpet, in which case a contrasting polish should be selected.)
      
      If a person is choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a jug of boiling water down their throat and presto! The blockage is almost instantly removed.

 


Poem

My Jesus I Love Thee

My Jesus I love Thee
more each day
Hear my prayers
as I solemnly say

You are the Master
and reign over all
You gently catch me
when I carelessly fall

You are the King
the greatest I find
You are so forgiving
so loving and kind

There's no one like you
no place to be found
I sense Your presence
in every place around

©2005 Mary Carpio

GOD

God's not going to ask you your political party,
Or what religion you are, or what you think of your life,
God wants to know if you have Love in your heart,
With Faith, Hope ,and Trust too in your life's strife,

God is a forgiving God, He Holds no grudges,
He created you and the universe too,
The inanimate feelings of Love, Hope, Faith and Trust,
Are the most important things God gives to you.

What are you doing in the days you are living?
How are you measuring up to His expectation?
It is never to late to Love and have Faith,
God always watches over you as you are His greatest creation.

©2005 Anne R. C. Neale


    God Bless!

    Gerald Klingelhoefer

    One God, One Faith, One Baptism Ephesians 4:5


Special thanks for
this month:
Devotions
 Upper Room
Humor
Christian Jokes
Quotes For Thought
Christian Quotes.org
Poem
Poets Passion