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Daily Post

Freely Give

This morning I am trying to remove the cold hard depressing realization that the weekend is over and the work week has returned from the front of my mind.  Yes, as depressing as that thought is, I am forcing myself this morning to look for the wonderful things that exist in this curse we call work.  Benefits the extend beyond funding the weekend.

So, as we head off for a week of cubicle warfare, I am cementing the power of the time away from work in my brain, and on of those things in the acknowledgment of the amount of grace and blessings that my life is bathed in.  And so, here is where my mind goes as I head off to the ‘work-a-day’ world.  I look towards the instruction the Christ gave his disciples, as he sent them out on a mission.

 

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

No, I will not be healing the sick, raising the dead or messing with lepers or demons today, but I have received freely, and so, I will attempt to give in that same way.  Well who knows, maybe that will help someone who feels like a leper or is dealing with demons, or feels dead as they live or is broken.

hm.. that’s pretty good motivation for the day.

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Daily Post

Bin Laden and Lookie Lous

What a week of news and activity. My mind is swirling with toughts and emotion as the sight of bucket trucks and the sound of chain saws fills my head. My home is still without power which although is a minor inconvience, does make it hard for a blogger:)!

So just a few simple thoughts today, as my online time is a bit limited right now.

First of all there’s the bittersweet news from the war zone – Bin Laden has been killed. When I read that on Facebook on my tiresome Windows Mobile phone last night, I was surprised on my reaction last night – which was sort of “oh well”. I was a little more surprised by the  joyous celebrations of others. I am just not convinced that is the right reaction. Yes, its a good thing, but it is also a somber event.

   Saying 28

 17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them. (Proverbs 24:17-18, New International Version, ©2011)

I sort of like The Message on this one as well:

 17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
   don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
   and then take pity on his plight. (Proverbs 24:17-18, The Message)

And then there is this. After putting in our volunteer time at the Corn Bread Festival in South Pittsburg yesterday we decided to be “Lookie Lous” and come home through Trenton and Flinstone to see the damage. Let me just say that pictures do not do it justice. The devastation in those areas is enormous from just the little bit we were able to see. If you can help, in any way please do so. There are so many ways to help from money, to giving blood to moving debris, to cooking food.

Really, do all you can to be a light for those in these communities that have been hit so very hard with damage.

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version, ©2011)

And well The Message is pretty good here as well:

 12-13What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, The Message)