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 Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:06 am
The Fisherman's Wife Proverbs 11:1-6 AN OLD ARAB fable tells the story of a man who went out fishing early one morning and caught the most beautiful, colorful fish he had ever seen. It weighed six pounds. He hurried immediately toward home and burst into the house to show his wife. "Isn't it beautiful?" he said, "I've never caught a finer fish! I'm going to cook us all a wonderful meal tonight." The man left the fish in the corner of the kitchen and went to work. But as the day wore on, his wife began to get hungry. She tried to ignore her hunger (and the large fish in the corner), but she only got hungrier. Just the thought of how delicious that fish would taste made her mouth water. Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore. She snatched the fish and tossed it into the frying pan, rocking back and forth on her heels and toes as it cooked. When it was cooked, she sat down and ate it until every last bite was gone. When the man came home, the fish was gone, "Oh!" his wife said, pointing accusingly at the cat. "That wicked cat got into the kitchen this afternoon and ate the whole fish!" The man seized the cat, and the woman thought he was going to kill it. Instead, the man plopped it down on the kitchen scale. The cat weighed five pounds. "A cat who ate my fish," the man said, frowning at his lying wife, "would not weigh less than the fish!" The woman had lied, and her husband knew it. Dishonestly seems to be an easy way out of some situations, but it's usually a trap. One dishonest act usually leads to another. One lie needs a second lie to cover it up. And the truth has a way of coming out in the end. Usually, the whole mess just leads to discovery- and embarrassment. And shame. And guilt. More often than not, "treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty" (read Proverbs 11:3). That's what happened to the wife in the old Arab tale. And it's what could happen to us-unless we "are guided by.....honesty" (Proverbs 11:3). Reflect:*Have you ever been trapped by your own dishonesty? *If so, in what ways? *Have you ever had to tell a lie to cover up an earlier lie? *If so, was it worth it? *Which is right: honesty or dishonesty? *Which is wiser: honesty or dishonesty? *Which protects you and provides for you: honesty or dishonesty?
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:21 pm
Fire, Water, and Reputation Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:17-28 ONCE UPON A time three friends went on a long journey together. Their names were Fire, Water, and Reputation. "My friends," said Fire to his companions, "we have far to go on our journey, and there are many hazards along the way. What should we do if we lose each other?" "You are wise think of that," answered Water. "We should agree on a way to find each other if we become separated." The three friends grew silent for a few moments. Then Fire spoke. "If you should lose me," he said, "simply look up to the sky. Where you see smoke, you will find me." "If you lose me," suggested Water, "simply look down at the ground. Where you find low, marshy ground, you will find me." Fire and Water then looked to Reputation for his answer. But his face was sad. "If you lose me," Reputation said, "do not bother looking. For when you lose me, it will be almost impossible to find me again!" Those words are true. A good reputation is a valuable thing; once its lost, it is hard (and sometimes impossible) to get it back again. Many people have been ruined or disgraced by dishonesty. Many reputations have been shattered because of one dishonest word or act. That's one of the reasons why honesty is in your best interests. That's one reason why "honesty is the best policy"_ because it's one of the ways God tries to protect you from harm and provide good things for you. Honesty establishes a good reputation: dishonesty can prevent-or ruin- a good reputation. " A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and good." (Proverbs 22:1). In other words, don't risk losing a good reputation because of a dishonest word or act- you may never get it back again. Reflect:*A reputation is what other people think about you. For example, they may think you're honest, or they may think you're dishonest. *Which reputation would you rather have? *What kind of a reputation do you think you have right now? *How can you build (or protect) a good reputation? *How can being honest help your reputation?
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:39 am
Headline News Bible Reading: Leviticus 26:3-12 IMAGINE PICKING UP the newspaper tomorrow morning and seeing these headlines: * "Crime Rate Plummets"
* "Crack Addict Returns $1,000 Found in Trash Can"
* "Largest Bank in the World Leaves Safe Unlocked-Every Night"
* "Shoplifting Comes to an End As Stores Drop Prices"
* "Gas Stations Now Operating on Honor System"
* "Burglar Alarms, Home Security Systems Become Obsolete"
* "Insurance Companies Stop All Fraud Investigations; Insurance More Affordable Than Ever"
* "Last Metal Detectors at Airport Phased Out; 'Not Needed Anymore,
Says Security Chief" That would be pretty wild, wouldn't it? But it would be totally predictable-if everyone in the world were to suddenly become honest. You wouldn't have to walk through metal detectors at the airport. You could leave the store without asking a clerk to take that white "security clip" thing off when you buy a piece of clothing. You wouldn't have to lock your house, your car, or your school locker. It would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? That gives you an idea of the wisdom of God's commands. If we all obeyed God, this world would be a totally different- and much better-place. As the Word says, "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known." (Proverbs 10:9). But, of course, the world's not going to become honest overnight. It won't even become honest little by little. But you and I can. We can follow God and obey his commandments not to lie, not to cheat, and not to steal. That won't change the world, but it sure will change us (and even some of the people around us). And that's pretty cool, too. Reflect:*It can be fun to think about how the world would be different if everyone was honest. But take a few minutes to think about this: *How might your world (your family, your friendships, your school, and so on) be different if you were honest every day? *If you and your family were honest? *If you, your family, and your friends were honest?
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Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:39 am
Ask a Silly Question..... Bible Reading: John 14:1-6 YOU'RE SITTING IN school, listening to your teacher talk. You're listening but you're not understanding. It's as if the teacher was speaking a foreign language. You feel like raising your hand and saying. "Could you please repeat that? I don't understand a thing you're saying." But you don't do that, of course. You'd never do that. You would sooner smear your hair with bacon grease and jump into the grizzly bear pit at the zoo. After all, nobody wants to ask a silly question in school, right? Well, no manner how silly your question might be, it wouldn't be the silliest question ever asked. That honor would go to a politician (who else?) named Pilate, who lived nearly two thousand years ago. He stood in an elaborate palace, dressed in regal clothes, and asked, "What is truth?" "What's so silly about that question?" you might ask. Just this: At that very moment the answer to his question was standing right in front of him! It would have been like walking into class on the first day of school, watching your new teacher write her name on the chalkboard, and then asking her, "What's your name?" Because, you see, the prisoner who stood before Pilate was Jesus Christ, who said of himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life"(John 14:6). When Pilate asked, "What is truth?" Jesus could have answered, "He's standing right in front of you." You see, we generally think of truth as a concept or idea. It exists in our mind as a principle or a quality. But truth isn't just an idea. It is a person, and that person has a name: Jesus Christ. That's why the only way to really understand truth and apply it to your life is by having a real, live relationship with Jesus Christ - because he is the truth! He doesn't just speak truth. He doesn't just know the truth. He is the truth! That means that if you have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, you have not only become acquainted with truth; you have the Truth himself living inside you! So you see, making right choices isn't really about following a bunch of rules. It's a relationship - a relationship with the Truth himself. And the closer you get to him, the more he - through his Holy Spirit - will help you to learn the truth, know the truth, and live the truth. Reflect:*Have you trusted Christ for salvation? *Are you following the one who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life"? *If not, why not? *If so, you have the Truth living inside you. *How does knowing Jesus help you to obey his commands?
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:53 am
Fair Game Bible Reading: Psalm 67:1-5 THERE'S A NEW arcade game in the lobby of the discount store in your town. It's called Warrior Rage. You scrape together every quarter you can find and walk into the store. You pop two quarters into the machine, which is bigger than some apartment buidings. A sinister voice says, "Welcome to Warrior Rage. Are you ready to die?" "Bring it on!" you say, pushing the red and blue buttons on your right. A grid forms on the screen, introducing six opponents. The game explains that they will all be fighting you at the same time. "Drago" shoots fireballs from his eyes and has five-bladed swords instead of hands. "Nemesis" swings a fifty-pound sledgehammer like a purse, crushing her opponents beneath its solid-steel head. "Malevant" has a powerful thirteen-foot tail that he uses as a weapon and also carries a grenade launcher in his short, dinosaurlike hands. The other three opponents have even more frightening characteristics. A single bead of sweat appears on your upper lip. You wipe if off. You punch the red button, and a second screen arises. "Choose your weapon," it instructs you. You stare at the screen. You can't believe this. The game gives you only two choices of weapons: a pair of small silver fingernail clippers or ten ordinary rubber bands. You can't even choose both weapons! "No fair!" you shout, kicking the machine. "This is so wrong!" You decide to play the game anyway, but equipped with only a pair of fingernail clippers you promptly "die". "I want my money back," you whine. "This game isn't even fair!" That wouldn't be fair, would it? It would be "so wrong," right? Right! Because fairness is right, and unfairness is wrong, right? Right! That's why you would be upset by a game that takes your money and doesn't even give you a fighting chance. But do you know why fairness is right and unfairness is wrong? That's right. Because the God who created us is a just God. He is fair. He is a God who "judge all peoples fairly" (Psalm 96:10). "Everything he does is just and fair," the Bible says (Deuteronomy 32:4).
So you see, fairness is right because God is fair. Unfairness is wrong because it is not like God. We choose right when we are fair to others, because God is always fair.
Reflect:
*Have you ever said, "That's not fair"?
*If so, can you think of the most recent time you said that?
*Did you know why fairness was right and unfairness was wrong?
*Have you treated anyone unfairly this week?
*If so, what should you do about it?
*If not, how can you continue to be fair to others in the future?
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:39 am
Animal Tales Bible Reading: Mark 14:32-38 *DID YOU KNOW that an ostrich's eye is larger than its brain? *Did you know that a cow has two stomachs? *Did you know that a bird's bones are hollow? *Did you know that a bee can't hear itself buzz? (It has no ears.) Some animals can be pretty interesting, can't they? Here's another interesting fact: Did you know that a cat's whiskers are exactly as wide as the widest part of its body? That way, a cat can know if it's trying to squeeze its head through the open end of a pipe or the slats of a fence, whether the rest of its body will fit. If its whiskers brush the pipe or the fence, the cat knows not to try to go through. Wouldn't it be nice if you and I could know before doing a certain thing whether we're going to get into trouble? Wouldn't it be cool to know, before we even go a certain way, if we're going to be tempted to make a wrong choice? Well, we may not be equipped with whiskers (though some of us do have a little bit of peach fuzz on our face, don't we?), but that doesn't mean we're helpless. In fact, we have something much better than cat whiskers. It's called prayer. You see, before Jesus faced his trial and crucifixion, he took some his disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with him. He knew what was about to happen, but they apparently didn't have a clue. So he tried to warn them. He said, "Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you"(read Mark 14:38 ). Unfortunately, they didn't listen. They relaxed instead of staying alert and slept instead of praying. If they had prayed, though, they would have been a lot better prepared for the temptations they faced over the next few days. Who knows? Maybe James wouldn't have run away. Maybe Peter wouldn't have denied Jesus. But we'll never know, of course, because they failed to pray and so were overpowered by temptation. It doesn't matter that we dont have whiskers, but it does matter whether or not we pray. If we pray, "And lead us not into temptation" (Luke 11:4), the Lord will warn us away from some situations in which we might be tempted to do wrong and bring us through other temptations he knows we're strong enough to face. But we must remember to "keep alert and pray," as Jesus said. Otherwise temptation will overpower us. Reflect:*Do you think things might have happened differently if Jesus' disciples had stayed alert and prayed in the garden instead of falling asleep? *If not, why not? *If so, how? *Do you pray every day and ask God to help you resist temptation? *When do you think is the best time for you to ask God to deliver you from temptation: during temptation, after the temptation, or before temptation even strikes?
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:49 am
Rotten People Bible Reading: Psalm 103:1-8 THE BIBLE IS filled with the stories of "rotten people" doing rotten things: * Sarah laughed at God's promises. * Jacob made a lifestyle out of cheating people--even his own brother. * Samson seemed willing to blab the solemn secret of his strength to any pretty woman who came along. * David stole another man's wife--and then had that man killed! * Jonah tried to run away instead of taking God's word to people he hated. * Peter openly denied his Lord with vows and curses. * John Mark quit the apostle Paul's missionary team and went home, leaving Paul feeling deserted. And those are just a few of the rotten people whose stories are told in the Bible. Some people did even worse things than those listed above! Do you know how God responded to those rotten people who did all those rotten things? He could have kicked them out of the Bible saying, "Just for that, I'm taking your story out and giving Enoch a whole new chapter of his own!" He could have told them to pack their bags and head for jail without passing "Go." He could have totally vaporized them if he wanted to. But God didnt do any of those things. Instead, he went ahead and gave Sarah the son he had promised her. She named her son Isaac, which means "laughter." He created an entire nation out of Jacob's sons after he renamed him Israel. He forgave David. He restored Peter. He gave John Mark and Jonah a second chance. God did all those things because he is merciful. As David once wrote in a song, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalm 103:8 ). God is merciful. He showed his mercy to all the rotten people in the Bible. And he shows his mercy to all kinds of rotten people today. That's why mercy is right. You see, the reason it's right for you (or anyone) to show mercy to others is because God is merciful. His nature and character make mercy right, because whatever is like God is right, and whatever is not like God is wrong. Reflect:*What does today's Bible reading say about the nature and character of God? *Who wrote Psalm 103? *How do you think David knew that God is merciful? *How do you know God is merciful? *How do you know it's right to be merciful? *Do you think you could be more merciful toward others? *If so, how?
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:16 am
MistyRose Rotten People Bible Reading: Psalm 103:1-8 THE BIBLE IS filled with the stories of "rotten people" doing rotten things: * Sarah laughed at God's promises. * Jacob made a lifestyle out of cheating people--even his own brother. * Samson seemed willing to blab the solemn secret of his strength to any pretty woman who came along. * David stole another man's wife--and then had that man killed! * Jonah tried to run away instead of taking God's word to people he hated. * Peter openly denied his Lord with vows and curses. * John Mark quit the apostle Paul's missionary team and went home, leaving Paul feeling deserted. And those are just a few of the rotten people whose stories are told in the Bible. Some people did even worse things than those listed above! Do you know how God responded to those rotten people who did all those rotten things? He could have kicked them out of the Bible saying, "Just for that, I'm taking your story out and giving Enoch a whole new chapter of his own!" He could have told them to pack their bags and head for jail without passing "Go." He could have totally vaporized them if he wanted to. But God didnt do any of those things. Instead, he went ahead and gave Sarah the son he had promised her. She named her son Isaac, which means "laughter." He created an entire nation out of Jacob's sons after he renamed him Israel. He forgave David. He restored Peter. He gave John Mark and Jonah a second chance. God did all those things because he is merciful. As David once wrote in a song, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalm 103:8 ). God is merciful. He showed his mercy to all the rotten people in the Bible. And he shows his mercy to all kinds of rotten people today. That's why mercy is right. You see, the reason it's right for you (or anyone) to show mercy to others is because God is merciful. His nature and character make mercy right, because whatever is like God is right, and whatever is not like God is wrong. Reflect:*What does today's Bible reading say about the nature and character of God? *Who wrote Psalm 103? *How do you think David knew that God is merciful? *How do you know God is merciful? *How do you know it's right to be merciful? *Do you think you could be more merciful toward others? *If so, how? A.) Its says that the Lord forgives all sins of all sinners around the world and heals the wounds and diseases in your heart. He cleanses you. He covers you with love, peace, happiness in your life. He forgives any who does wrong and hes merciful in his ways towards others. Like what Misty said we should Merciful threw others threw God. *Who wrote Psalm 103?A.)I think it was David who wrote Psalms 103 *How do you know God is Merciful?A.)I know God is Merciful because some of the stories in the bible tell us that many people commited many sins, but God gave what he promised and forgave them for there major or even something small. If they asked to be forgiven. I also see in the world that many people are forgiven by there sins and God will forgive you am me as well as others. *Do you think you could be more Merciful towards others?A.) Yes I think I can be more Merciful towards others. *If so, how?A.) I can be more Merciful towards others by having to be patience and forgiving of the anger, sadness, frustration they caused me. I can forgive them because God is merciful like the lord promises. *Praise the lord*
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 1:11 pm
Five Alive Bible Reading: Matthew 7:24-27 SOME PEOPLE DON'T obey God's commands because they don't understand them. "God can't blame me for not obeying things I don't understand, can he?" they may ask. "I'll just follow those parts of the Bible that I agree with," they may decide. but that kind of thinking and acting can be dangerous, as the following true story may illustrate: There once was a group of five sailors in the British navy who were aboard a small boat. Their boat was towing a much larger ship through rough, choppy waters with a thick wire cable (called a hawser). Suddenly, through the sound of the howling winds and crashing waves, the five sailors on the deck heard their officer shout a single, one-word command: "Down!" Immediately, those five men flung themselves to the deck of their vessel, a split second before that wire tow cable cracked over their heads and past their ears like a deadly whip. Their commanding officer had seen the cable snap and had issued his order just in time, allowing the five sailors to escape the recoil from the broken hawser. Any man who had been in the path of that cable would have been killed instantly. Those five sailors survived because they obedyed without hesitating. If they has stopped to wonder why he gave that order, they would have been killed. If they had paused to argue the wisdom of the order, they would have been killed. If they had hesitated to decide whether or not the order made sense to them, they would have been killed. Their immediate obedience saved them from disaster. Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:"(Matthew 7:24). We may not understand all of God's commands. We may not know exactly how his commands will protect us. But if we listen and obey, we will be wise. Reflect:*The house Jesus describes in today's Bible reading probably wasn't a house built beside an ocean or lake but a house built in one of the sandy wadis (or dry riverbeds) that were common where Jesus lived. Any house built on the soft ground of such a flat place would be fine during the dry part of the year but would probably be washed away when the rainy season came and the dry bed became a raging river! *Are you more like someone who hears the teachings of Jesus and ignores them or like someone who listens and obeys what he said? *How does Jesus say (in today's Bible reading) you can build a firm and lasting foundation that will keep you strong when the "storms" of life hit?
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 9:52 am
Temper Tantrum Bible Reading: 1Timothy 1:15-17 HARVEY COULD HARDLY wait to get out of the music store in the mall. He finally had his own copy of the new Toe Jam CD, Temper Tantrum.As he left the store, he turned the CD case sideways and scratched at the cellophane wrapper. "Come on," he said. "Come on." He kept scratching furiously until a thin strip of cellophane stood apart from the stubborn wrapper. "Finally," he sighed as he gripped the strip between his thumb and forefinger and pulled. A tiny, almost invisible piece of the wrapper came off. The rest of the wrapper remained intact. Harvey gritted his teeth and turned the CD case over. He applied his thumbnail to the hinge of the CD case, running it up and down the ridge, hoping to break the wrapper. But the cellophane seemed to be unbreakable. "Come on!" he growled. He stuck the CD case between his teeth and tried to bite the wrapper off. When that didn't work, he pulled a dime out of his pocket and tried to scratch the cellophane open with the side of the dime. Finally, he threw the CD case on the floor and started jumping up and down on it. When he picked the CD up off the floor, the case was splintered, and the CD was scratched, but the cellophane wrapper was broken. "I DID IT!" he screamed in the crowded mall. He laughed like a maniac. "I DID IT! I OPENED IT! I WIN! I WIN! HA HA HA HA HA!" Maybe you've never had an experience quite like Harvey's. Maybe you don't get impatient trying to peel the cellophane off a CD case. But you probably do get impatient with something, right? Maybe with waiting in the cafeteria line at school. Maybe with clothes that dont fit right. Maybe with bossy friends or nosy parents. Regardless of what tries your patience, remember that patience is a virtue. That means it's a good thing. When you choose to be patient, you are choosing to do right. But why is patience right? You probably know the answer already, don't you? (Careful--don't get impatient!) Patience is right because God is patient. According to the apostly Paul, he has shown "great patience with even the worst sinners" (read 1Timothy 1:16). He is patient with you. He's never given up on you. He's never quit loving you and helping you. And because God is patient, you should be patient, too, because patience is a virtue. Reflect:*Do you think God has been patient with you? *If not, why not? *If so, why? *What things (or people) try your patience the most? *How can you be more patient?
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:57 pm
Cover Stories Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1-12 BRAD WAS SUPPOSED to be baby-sitting his little sister, but he had gotten so involved in the television show he was watching that he forgot all about Sissy. When the show ended, he went to look for her. He found her alone in the kitchen, where she had colored one of the walls with crayons! "Oh no!" he cried, grabbing the crayons out of Sissy's hand. "Mom and Dad are going to kill us both!" "I'm sorry," Sissy said. Her lower lip shot forward in a pout. "Don't cry, Sissy," Brad said. "Brad's going to make it better." He gathered together Sissy's crayons and put them away. When he returned to the kitchen, he carried a paint can and brush. "We're going to fix Sissy's mistake," he told his sister. "Mom and Dad won't even know what you did." He spread newspaper on the floor and started brushing the paint carefully over the crayon marks. The more he worked, though, the worse everything looked. He could still see the crayon marks through the paint. Not only that, the new paint looked darker then the old coat. "It'll look better when it dries," he told Sissy. But he knew it wouldn't. He stooped over to put the lid back on the paint can and upset the can, spilling paint all over the floor. The newspapers soaked up some of the paint, but even after he had wiped up his mess, paint still showed in the cracks between the floor tiles. By the time his parents got home, the kitchen looked even worse than when he had started-and he was in even bigger trouble than he would have been had he just left Sissy's crayon marks alone! Have you ever made a mistake or a wrong choice and then tried to cover it up instead of just admitting it and asking for forgiveness? If you have, you're not alone. That's what Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden; They tried to hide from God. That's what Cain did after he had killed his brother Abel. When God asked, "Where is your brother?" Cain replied, "I don't know.....Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?" But trying to hide or deny their sins didnt work for Adam and Eve and Cain. And it won't work for us, either. When you make a wrong choice, it's much better to admit it and ask forgiveness than to try and cover it up. Don't try to hide it. Don't try to deny it. Don't try to explain it. Just confess it and determine to do better the next time. Reflect:*How do you usually react when you make a wrong choice? *Do you think it's better to admit wrong choices than to try and deny them or cover them up? *If not, why not? *If so, why?
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:13 am
Old George Bible Reading: Numbers 10:29-32 GEORGE HAD NO home. Most nights he slept at the YMCA. He owned only the clothes he wore: a shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of shoes wrapped with rubber bands to keep the soles from flapping, and a shabby coat. On cold winter mornings George would go to the police station nearby and spend the morning sitting in an old metal chair in the back. At least it was warm inside the police station. A couple of police officers befriended Old George. They would occasionally slip him a few dollars for a cup of coffee. They found out that Billy, a nearby restaurant owner, gave Old George a hot breakfast every morning at no charge. The police officers decided to invite George to join their families for Christmas dinner. George agreed. They even gave a few presents to George, which he unwrapped carefully. As they drove their guest back to the YMCA that evening, George asked. "Are these presents really mine.... to keep?" When the officers nodded, George asked the officers to drive by Billy's restaurant before taking him home. When they arrived at Billy's restaurant, George had carefully rewrapped all his presents. He tucked them under his arms and walked into the restaurant. "You've always been real good to me, Billy," he told the man behind the counter. "Now I can be good to you." He plopped the presents down on the counter and slid them toward Billy. "Merry Christmas!" he said. Old George gave all his Christmas presents away. That story, told by reporter Anne Keegan in the Chicago Tribune Magazine, is a true story of one man's generosity. Unfortunately, we are not often like Old George. Old George received gifts from a couple of generous police officers and promptly chose to share them with someone else. We have received many, many gifts from God and from others, but we don't always show our gratitude by being generous to others. Really, that's all generousity is: sharing the good things God has given you. That's what Moses offered to Hobab in today's Bible reading. "And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea. it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee." (Numbers 10:32) That's what God wants us to do - to be generous with all the good things he has given us. Reflect:*List some of the good things God has done for you or given to you: Money and Possessions Talents, Abilities, Blessings ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ *Can you share any of those with others? *If not, why not? *If so, how?
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:57 am
Man-Eater Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:3-7 MANY, MANY YEARS ago there was an old man who lived with his son in the forest. The people in the village nearby used to call the old man a miser and say that he kept stacks of money hidden in this house. Some even said that he could rub a silver coin for hour after hour until it would turn to gold! One day the old name ouw out chopping wood when a wild tiger appeared and pounced on him. The tiger gripped the old man by the shirt on his back and carried him off, dangling the miser from his mouth the way a kitten might carry a rag doll. The old man's son saw everything that happened and ran to get his rifle. He soon caught up to the tiger that held his father. The son raised his rifle to shoot the tiger and to save the old man. "Wait!" cried the old man. "Don't shoot! Aim carefully," he instructed his son. "If you can kill this tiger without spoiling his beautiful hide, we can skin him and get many pieces of silver! Shoot carefully, my son, so that we may get top price for the tiger's skin!" As the son listened obediently to his father's instructions, he lowered the rifle slightly from his shoulder. The tiger, seeing his opportunity to escape, suddenly bounded into the forest, carrying the old miser with him. The son pursued but could not catch the nimble tiger. He never saw his father again. That old story illustrates the dangers of greed. By thinking only of money and of his own gain, the old man foolishly lost his life. That's why Jesus said, ..."Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15). Greed is sin, and sin never made anyone happy and complete, though it has destroyed many people's lives. So be on your guard against all kinds of greed, and cultivate a spirit of generosity instead. Reflect:Unscramble the scrambled words to complete the following statements, based on today's Bible reading.*No greedy person will thineir the Kingdom of Christ and of God *A greedy person is really an toadiler who worships the things of this world. *Don't rappaticite in the things these people do.
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:17 am
Command Performance Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 24:19-22 SOME OF GOD'S commands are more familiar than others. For example, everyone would be able to complete the famous fifth commandment. "Honor your father and mother." And just about anyone could recite, "Love your neighbor as yourself," right? But others may not be so familiar. Look at the list below, and see if you can change the wrong words in each of the verse so that they read correctly. (The references are given in case you need help; all references are from the KJV.) * I have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to smile than to frown." (Acts 20:35).
* Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to rich. (Romans 12:13).
* As we have therefore seen on TV, let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10).
* That they do good, that they be rich in milk chocolate, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. (1Timothy 6:18 ).
* But to do good and to eat your vegetables: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).
* If anyone has large eyebrows, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1John 3:17). Of course, by now, you've probably realized that all those Bible verses are commands to be generous, right? To be honest, that was the point of the whole exercise- a way of reminding ourselves that God commands generosity. A lot of people think that generosity is something nice but not necessary. But God's Word says otherwise. He makes it clear, throughout his Word, that generosity is right and stinginess, or greediness, is wrong. That's why he so often says things like, "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality." (Romans 12:13) and ..." It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). To put it simply, if you aren't generous, you're disobeying God, because he commands generosity. Reflect:*Do you make a habit of being generous? *Do you share with others? *Are you generous with others in your family? *Do you give to people who are in need? *Can you name anyone you've been generous to in recent days? *Can you think of new ways to be generous to others in the next few days and weeks?
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Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:15 am
Are You a Wise Guy? Bible Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD that Christmas story many times, right? But how well do you really know it? Take the following quiz, and see if you're truly a "wise guy" (or girl) when it comes to the story of Jesus' birth. (Either think it in your mind or post if you so wish, the best answer for each question.) 1. The wise men who journedyed from afar to visit Jesus were ........... a. astrologers. ............ b. kings. ............ c. circus performers. 2. How many wise men were there? ............ a. Three ............. b. I don't know ............ c. I know, but I'm not telling. 3. The wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem and visited him in ............. a. a stable. .............. b. a manger. .............. c. a house. 4. The wise men's gifts included ............... a. gold. ................... b. Frankenstein. .................. c. fur. You see, a lot of misunderstanding has arisen about the visit of the wise men to Jesus on that first Christmas long ago. Most of people think the wise men were kings (probably because of the Christmas carol, "We Three Kings"); but they were most likely court astrologers for some city or nation. Most people think there were three wise men, but the Bible doesn't say how many wise men visit Jesus. And although your family's manger scene probably shows the wise men visiting Jesus at the stable where the Lord was born, they apparently didn't arrive until Jesus, Joseph, and Mary had moved into a house somewhere (see Matthew 2:11). And, of course, they brought gifts of gold, frankincense (not Frankenstein), and myrrh (not fur). So if your answers were (a), (b), (c), and (a), you really are a "wise guy" (or girl). But the story of the wise men visiting Jesus home is mor than just fun and games. It can remind us that Christmas is more about giving than about getting. The wise men brought generous gifts to the Christ child that first Christmas, but they brought even more than expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They brought themselves-and their worship. This Christmas Eve you're probably thinking a lot about what you're getting for Christmas. But a more important question is: What are you giving?
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