words that bless

labor day

preachersmith — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:45:10 +0000

Word: Hey lazy, even ants are smarter than you! Consider its ways and wise up.

Though an ant doesn’t have a foreman, boss or manager, it stores its

provisions in the summer and stockpiles its food at harvest time.

How long will you lie there, you slug? When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty

will descend on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

Wonder: Do you put in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay every day or do

you do what you can get by with?

Word: Hey lazy, even ants are smarter than you! Check out its ways and wise up. Though an ant doesn’t have a foreman, boss or manager, it stores its provisions in the summer and stockpiles its food at harvest time. How long will you lie there, you slug? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will descend on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

Wonder: Do you put in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay every day or do you do what you can get by with?

new every morning

preachersmith — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:25 +0000

Word: “… for the Lord’s love is great and his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Wonder: What blessings from the Lord today will you see? What blessings will you count?

Word: “… for the Lord’s love is great and his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Wonder: What blessings from the Lord will you see today? What blessings will you count?

no asking going on

preachersmith — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:11:40 +0000

Word: “Why is it you do not have? Because you do not solicit God.” (James 4:2)

Wonder: There are not any “No Soliciting” signs around the throne of God. Quite the

opposite, actually; he encourages us to ask of him, for he longs to bless us. However,

there are probably some “No Soliciting” signs posted around our heart. There are

matters about which we think “There’s no use asking about that, for he’ll never

hear me.” As to some things, we think “I’ve asked about that before or knew of

others asking and so, there’s no reason for me to ask now.” And on a multitude

of matters, we’re not even aware of the fact we ought to be asking about them,

and so there can’t be any soliciting going on.

Word: “Why is it you do not have? Because you do not solicit God.” (James 4:2)

Wonder: There are not any “No Soliciting” signs surrounding God’s throne in heaven. Quite the opposite, actually; he encourages us to ask of him, for he longs to bless us. However, there are probably some “No Soliciting” signs posted around our heart. There are matters about which we think “There’s no use asking about that, for he’ll never hear me.” As to some things, we think “I’ve asked about that before or knew of others asking and so, there’s no reason for me to ask now.” And on a multitude of matters, we’re not even aware of the fact we ought to be asking about them, and so there can’t be any soliciting going on.

So what might happen if we got serious about asking ourselves about what we’re asking of God?

a pain-free passion?

preachersmith — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:20:46 +0000

Word: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Wonder: This nick-nack is terribly ironic and disturbing. To reinterpret the cross of Christ with a prayer for a pain-free life smacks to me of everything that is wrong with consumer Christianity. God forbid that our following Jesus might involve carrying our own cross. It is an all too easy, and can even be a quite subtle, thing to make faith be about my will rather than his. But there is no such thing as pain-free Christian faith, unless it is not Christian or is not faith. Christ, not comfort, must be our Lord. What symbols do you encounter that speak of consumer Christianity?

Word: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Wonder: This nick-nack is terribly ironic and disturbing to me. To reinterpret the cross of Christ with a prayer for a pain-free life smacks to me of everything that is wrong with “consumer Christianity.” God forbid that our following the one crucified for us could involve our own crucifixion. It is an all too easy, and can even be a quite subtle, thing to make faith be about my will rather than his. But there is no such thing as pain-free Christian faith, unless it is not Christian or is not faith. Christ, not comfort, must be our Lord. What symbols do you encounter that reek of consumer Christianity?