Daily Bread

Hey y'all!!

First, I just wanted to let everyone know that I have added some things to my blog... On the sidebar, I added a Daily Blessing in the welcome section, and each day you will get a Verse, a Promise, a Psalm and a Proverb. I add blogs and online resources as I find new ones. =) I also add quotes as I find them. :) I am also going to be updating my about me page soon as well... I have been working on it for a little bit now, and I hope to be finished soon! :) OKay, so that's it I think. Oh! I also now have a contact me page ("form"), so if you want to contact me, you can send me an e-mail right from here. And I now have a blog button! :) Dakota, over at Dakota's Nature Photos (http://dakotas-nature-photos.blogspot.com/) hosted a Photo Contest a couple weeks ago, and I came in second. So, those two things were my awards. Thanks, Dakota! =)

Okay, now on to what I was going to blog about. =D I read the Daily Bread each day, and a couple recently have been really good, and I wanted to share with you.

Free Compliments:

Scripture reading: Proverbs 16:20-28

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
--

During a time of economic crisis and depressing news, two studenst at Purdue University decided to lift the spirits of people on campus with some encouraging words. For two hours every Wednesday afternoon, Cameron Brown and Brett Westcott stood along a busy walkway holding a large "Free Compliments" sign and saying nice things to everyone who passed by. "I like your red coat." "Cool snow boots." "Very nice smile." Some students said they deliberately walked past "the compliment guys" every Wednesday just to hear a kind word. I was struck by these two young men who looked at people with the goal of commending tham, rather than finding fault or being critical. Is that how I, as a follower of Christ, view others each day? Instead of being like the person who is focused on evil and whose speech is "like a burning fire" (Prov. 16:27), we can take a different approach, knowing that what we say begins deep inside us. "The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones" (vv.23-24). Kind words may be free, but they give a priceless lift of spirit. Why not encourage someone today? -David McCasland
~

The power in words can build up or tear down-

Create a big smile or produce a sad frown;

So in all your contacts with people each day,

Be sure to encourage in all that you say. -Fitzhugh

--

A gentle word of compliment falls lightly

but it carries great weight.
--

Gold-Medal Effort:

Scripture reading: Philippians 2:4-11

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
--

At the 2009 Kansas high school state track championship, and unusual thing happened. The team that won the girls 3,200-meter relay was disqualified. But what happened next was even more unusual. The team that was awarded the state championship by default turned right around and gave their medals to the team that had been disqualified. The first place school, St. Mary's Colgan, lost first place because judges ruled that a runner has stepped out of her lane as she handed off the baton. That meant the second team, Maranatha Academy, moved up to first. After receiving their medals, the girls from Maranatha saw the downtrodden looks on the faces of the St. Mary's girls, so they gave them their individual medals. Why did they do this? As Maranatha's coach Bernie Zarda put it: "Our theme for the year was to run not for our glory, but for God's glory." As a resulty of the girl's action, their story was told throughout Kansas, and God' name was lifted up. When we set aside our own interests and accomplishments to recognize that it's better to care for the interest of others (Phil. 2:4), we see God's name glorified. Acting with grace and kindness toward others is one of the best ways to point people to God. -Dave Branon

~

Love is not blind but looks

Abroad through others' eyes,

And asks not "Must I give?"

But, "May I sacrifice?" -Ziegler
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When we love God, we will serve people.
--

An Attached Fuel Hose:

Scripture reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
--

Felipe Massa of Brazil should have won the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore in September 2008. But as he drove off from a refueling stop while in the lead, the fuel hose was still attached. By the time his team had removed the hose, he had lost so much time that he finished 13th. The apostle Paul warned Timothy of another kind of attachment that would cause him defeat-"the affairs of this life" (2 Tim. 2:4) He urged Timothy not to let anything slow him down or distract him from the cause of his Lord and Master. There are many attractive things in our world that are so easy to get entangled with-hobbies, sports, TV, computer games. These may start off as "refueling" activities, but later that can take up so much of our time that they interfere with the purpose for which God created us: to share the good news of Christ, serve Him with our gifts, and bring glory to him. Paul told Timothy why he ought not be entangled with this world's affairs: So that he could "please Him" (v.4). If your desire is to please the Lord Jesus, you will want to stay untangled from the world. As John reminds us, "The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17) -C.P. Hia

~

Although we live in this world,

we must declare our allegiance to heaven.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! =)

Because Of Him,

Karissa