Choose one person in your life who annoys you, or someone you typically avoid. Go out of your way to act kindly to him or her in at least one way today.
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh word stirs up anger."
- Proverbs 15:1
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Day 10 (Nov. 28)
Surrender one part of your life that demands much of your attention for today, focusing rather on God.
"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
- Luke 14:33
"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
- Luke 14:33
Day 9 (Nov. 27)
Look at your life and pick out one area where you feel God has blessed you (sports, music, or a certain skill). Write down three ways that you could use this ability to serve God, and seek to apply at least one of them.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good"
- 1 Corinthians 12:7
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good"
- 1 Corinthians 12:7
Day 8 (Nov. 26)
Print out or write out a worship song or hymn that focuses on God (something you would sing in church) and memorize the chorus, meditating on the verses.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
- Colossians 3:16
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
- Ephesians 5:18,19
"He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
- Revelation 14:7
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
- Colossians 3:16
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
- Ephesians 5:18,19
"He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
- Revelation 14:7
Day 7 (Nov. 25)
Redirect any complement you receive from others or yourself, either mentally or verbally.
"The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory."
- Psalm 102:15
"make known among the nations what He has done"
Psalm 105:1
""They reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."
- Acts 14:27
"The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory."
- Psalm 102:15
"make known among the nations what He has done"
Psalm 105:1
""They reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."
- Acts 14:27
Day 6 (Nov. 24)
Search the Bible for one thing that pleases God, and then seek to practice this thing.
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him."
- 2 Corinthians 5:9
"so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"
- Colossians 1:10
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
- 1 John 3:1
"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him."
- 2 Corinthians 5:9
"so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"
- Colossians 1:10
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
- 1 John 3:1
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Five Days a Week
If it is alright with you guys, I think we should try to do a love dare each day during the work week, and then recoup on weekends.
Day 5 (Nov. 21)
Just how do faith and works relate? Romans 3:28 says "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." "But," you reply, "James 2:20 says: '...faith without works is useless.'" Isn't that a contradiction? One verse says faith without works saves us, and the other says that faith without works is useless. Many people get caught up in these verse - Martin Luther, for example, condemned the book of James as being uninspired at one point in his life because it so emphasized works.
So what is more important: faith or works? To understand these verses in James and Romans you must understand their context. Earlier verses in James 2 say:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James was writing to a group of hypocrites (much like ourselves, most of the time). These people claimed to be believers in Christ, but acted nothing like it. It's the same today - if you took a survey in your school asking how many students were "Christians," a large majority would say that they are. However, Matthew 7:13 says "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it." A majority believe they are Christians, but Christ said that a minority (through the narrow gate) really are.
But Romans 3:28, which says we are saved apart from works is wrong? No! A person is saved solely by genuinely believing in and surrendering to Christ: faith. After a person is saved, they will long to live for Christ, which will prove to them and to others that they have been saved: works. Faith, then works. They go together.
Many topics like this confuse believers. Christians tend either to stray toward faith without works or works without faith. Therefore you get liberalism or legalism. The key is balance. One should strive after faith and works.
*Look at your life circumspectly and list one major aspect of your spiritual life that is "out of balance" (e.g. faith and works, patience and action, etc.). Spend the day determining how this aspect is out of balance and investigate Biblical ways to rebalance the area.
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
- Ephesians 5:15-16
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
- Romans 3:28
"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
- James 2:17
So what is more important: faith or works? To understand these verses in James and Romans you must understand their context. Earlier verses in James 2 say:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James was writing to a group of hypocrites (much like ourselves, most of the time). These people claimed to be believers in Christ, but acted nothing like it. It's the same today - if you took a survey in your school asking how many students were "Christians," a large majority would say that they are. However, Matthew 7:13 says "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it." A majority believe they are Christians, but Christ said that a minority (through the narrow gate) really are.
But Romans 3:28, which says we are saved apart from works is wrong? No! A person is saved solely by genuinely believing in and surrendering to Christ: faith. After a person is saved, they will long to live for Christ, which will prove to them and to others that they have been saved: works. Faith, then works. They go together.
Many topics like this confuse believers. Christians tend either to stray toward faith without works or works without faith. Therefore you get liberalism or legalism. The key is balance. One should strive after faith and works.
*Look at your life circumspectly and list one major aspect of your spiritual life that is "out of balance" (e.g. faith and works, patience and action, etc.). Spend the day determining how this aspect is out of balance and investigate Biblical ways to rebalance the area.
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
- Ephesians 5:15-16
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
- Romans 3:28
"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
- James 2:17
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Day 4 (Nov. 20)
As people, we are very limited. If we want to do something, we first have to take into consideration a multitude of variables that could affect our "doing." Even considering these variables, it's often as likely as not that the "doing" won't ever be done. As humans here on earth, we're constrained under many, many variables and laws that we just can't ignore or circumnavigate. Take the law of gravity, for example. Most people would say they want to be able to fly - "like superman, right? That'd be fun." Well, then, why don't you just go ahead and do it? "Umm... good question." With a good answer: we are limited!
Even our thinking is limited. We look around and see only the now. Think about that: now is such a small, microscopic part of the earth's history. In fact, now is a small part of even just today. It's here, and before I can even write that it is here, it is gone. Now exists for an immeasurably small amount of time - it can't really be measured. Yet now is all that we, as people, observe at any given moment.
So, knowing just how small now is compared to a day or a minute or a second, compare now to forever. That's comparing the smallest possible item to the largest possible item - an immeasurably small amount of time to an immeasurably large amount of time. You can't even compare the two but to say they are powerfully opposite.
People are perfectly fine with this, however. Humanity as a whole has come to except this fact of life - really, what else can you do? But even beyond this, humanity has become blind to the fact that now is not all there is. Forever is all there is. So let's battle our natural now mindset, because now won't last. Once God begins to open up our limited minds to forever - to infinity - our focus, goals, ideas, desires, and consequently our words and actions, will change. Stop focusing on now! See, from the time I wrote that to right now, now changed. But forever does not change. Although we can't fully understand infinity, we must strive after it in earnestness and prayer.
*Pick a Bible verse or passage that involves focusing on eternity rather than on this earth, and memorize it. Meditate on it and, if possible, meet with another believer to discuss it.
"For, 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.'"
- 1 Peter 1:24-25a
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
- Revelation 22:13
"but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away."
- 1 Corinthians 13:10
"We are a moment, You are forever, Lord of the ages, God before time;
We are a vapor, You are eternal, love everlasting, reigning on high."
- Be Unto Your Name
Even our thinking is limited. We look around and see only the now. Think about that: now is such a small, microscopic part of the earth's history. In fact, now is a small part of even just today. It's here, and before I can even write that it is here, it is gone. Now exists for an immeasurably small amount of time - it can't really be measured. Yet now is all that we, as people, observe at any given moment.
So, knowing just how small now is compared to a day or a minute or a second, compare now to forever. That's comparing the smallest possible item to the largest possible item - an immeasurably small amount of time to an immeasurably large amount of time. You can't even compare the two but to say they are powerfully opposite.
People are perfectly fine with this, however. Humanity as a whole has come to except this fact of life - really, what else can you do? But even beyond this, humanity has become blind to the fact that now is not all there is. Forever is all there is. So let's battle our natural now mindset, because now won't last. Once God begins to open up our limited minds to forever - to infinity - our focus, goals, ideas, desires, and consequently our words and actions, will change. Stop focusing on now! See, from the time I wrote that to right now, now changed. But forever does not change. Although we can't fully understand infinity, we must strive after it in earnestness and prayer.
*Pick a Bible verse or passage that involves focusing on eternity rather than on this earth, and memorize it. Meditate on it and, if possible, meet with another believer to discuss it.
"For, 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.'"
- 1 Peter 1:24-25a
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
- Revelation 22:13
"but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away."
- 1 Corinthians 13:10
"We are a moment, You are forever, Lord of the ages, God before time;
We are a vapor, You are eternal, love everlasting, reigning on high."
- Be Unto Your Name
Day 3 (Nov. 19)
What you say truly reflects who you are. If you think about it, it's nearly impossible to be consumed with something and refrain from speaking of it. For some people this may be a video game, a girlfriend, school, politics, a hobby, etc. Think about somebody you know like this - most of what you think of that person involves what that person spends most of his or her time talking about. If you can expect to enter a political conversation with an individual every time you converse with them, you will inevitably draw the conclusion that he or she spends much of his or her time thinking, meditating, and pondering politics - it's what you know that person for: his or her basis, so to speak.
So what do you spend the most time talking about? Jesus Christ rightly said "...the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart" (Matthew 12:34). Whatever answer you come up with for the previous question, that is what fills your heart. Obsession does not remain held up inside - it bursts out from the mouth.
That is why God holds our words to be so important. With the media and information overload of today, words are sold out cheap. It seems like what words we take in or put out have little effect because they are so plentiful. God, however, holds a much higher view (the correct view) of words. Consider this: One of Jesus' "nicknames" is the "Word;" and the Bible is also God's "Word." How much importance does God give to the Bible? and to His Son? Don't give in to society's push to destroy the value of words - your words indicate where your heart is.
*Initiate a "spiritual", God-based conversation with someone you generally would not.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
- John 1:1,14
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man."
- Matthew 15:18
"But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."
- Ephesians 5:3-4
So what do you spend the most time talking about? Jesus Christ rightly said "...the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart" (Matthew 12:34). Whatever answer you come up with for the previous question, that is what fills your heart. Obsession does not remain held up inside - it bursts out from the mouth.
That is why God holds our words to be so important. With the media and information overload of today, words are sold out cheap. It seems like what words we take in or put out have little effect because they are so plentiful. God, however, holds a much higher view (the correct view) of words. Consider this: One of Jesus' "nicknames" is the "Word;" and the Bible is also God's "Word." How much importance does God give to the Bible? and to His Son? Don't give in to society's push to destroy the value of words - your words indicate where your heart is.
*Initiate a "spiritual", God-based conversation with someone you generally would not.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
- John 1:1,14
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man."
- Matthew 15:18
"But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."
- Ephesians 5:3-4
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Day 2 (Nov. 18)
Instruction manuals are useful tools. Whether you’re putting together a t.v. stand or trying to program the radio in your car, instruction manuals can be vital assets. Many people rush ahead without manuals and end up embarrassing themselves and taking more time than is required to accomplish a goal.
If manuals are important for simple, physical items like radios, imagine how important a manual would be for something as complex as the mystery of Christ. Christ Himself, being God, is infinitely complex; thus even what we know of Him is a mystery, and is only obtained by God’s revealing it to us through His word: the Bible. Although anyone can comprehend the facts shown in the Bible, God reserves the ability to comprehend the mysteries of the Bible for His chosen people, for they are “spiritually appraised.” “He who is spiritual appraises all things…” This happens as God reveals His mysterious truth to you in meditation of Him and His word.
*Find a secluded place that you don’t often visit and meditate on Ephesians 3:1-12.
“Tremble, and do not sin. Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.”
- Psalm 4:4
“Cease striving and know that I am God…”
- Psalm 46:10a
“My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.”
- Psalm 49:3
If manuals are important for simple, physical items like radios, imagine how important a manual would be for something as complex as the mystery of Christ. Christ Himself, being God, is infinitely complex; thus even what we know of Him is a mystery, and is only obtained by God’s revealing it to us through His word: the Bible. Although anyone can comprehend the facts shown in the Bible, God reserves the ability to comprehend the mysteries of the Bible for His chosen people, for they are “spiritually appraised.” “He who is spiritual appraises all things…” This happens as God reveals His mysterious truth to you in meditation of Him and His word.
*Find a secluded place that you don’t often visit and meditate on Ephesians 3:1-12.
“Tremble, and do not sin. Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.”
- Psalm 4:4
“Cease striving and know that I am God…”
- Psalm 46:10a
“My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.”
- Psalm 49:3
Day 1 (Nov. 17)
Human effort, no matter how mighty by our standards, is useless if not backed by the power of God. The power of God is infinite; we honestly do not understand the meaning or significance of this fact. All power we observe among humans is limited, less than infinite, so our brains can comprehend no more than the “concept” of infinite power. While limited powers influence or battle each other, infinite power fully controls and determines all limited powers; and it itself is not affected by the limited powers under it.
Simply put, this means that anything God purposes to do, He will do; and anything we purpose to do will be done only if God purposes to do it also. Therefore, if growth and change from this journal are not purposed by God, the infinite power, our effort, the limited power, will become powerless; but, if God purposes for our growth, the potential of our growth will be as limitless as His power. So what we should first do is pray and ask God to purpose to grow us in Him.
*Fast from sun-up to sun-down today, taking five minutes out of every hour to pray that God will prepare you and purpose to grow you through this journal. Pray with a different, specific topic each time (e.g. diligence, soft heart).
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming form ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:5
“Pray without ceasing.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit…”
- Ephesians 6:18a
Simply put, this means that anything God purposes to do, He will do; and anything we purpose to do will be done only if God purposes to do it also. Therefore, if growth and change from this journal are not purposed by God, the infinite power, our effort, the limited power, will become powerless; but, if God purposes for our growth, the potential of our growth will be as limitless as His power. So what we should first do is pray and ask God to purpose to grow us in Him.
*Fast from sun-up to sun-down today, taking five minutes out of every hour to pray that God will prepare you and purpose to grow you through this journal. Pray with a different, specific topic each time (e.g. diligence, soft heart).
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming form ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:5
“Pray without ceasing.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit…”
- Ephesians 6:18a
Love Dare
Well, we've been off to a rocky start with the love dare journal. So, I was thinking we could start over from day 1 (with The Purpose Driven Life and with the forty love dares). It's mostly my fault for the lack of communication I think, so we'll go ahead and set up a system that will work for us.
If we start from the beginning, we'll need to be sure to make up new love dares two or three days in advance, in case we can't communicate with each other for a day or two. I'll post all love dares here, so we can have easy access to them. And I'll try to write up a brief commentary type thing on each one so we know why we're doing what we're doing; I'll add some verses too, like we did the first two days. Let's plan on starting on the Monday after next (Nov. 17th).
"But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
Let's keep that in mind. We need to do this to grow in our love for Christ/our relationship with Christ.
Time to kill the sinful selves that have been ruling us for too long, eh?
If we start from the beginning, we'll need to be sure to make up new love dares two or three days in advance, in case we can't communicate with each other for a day or two. I'll post all love dares here, so we can have easy access to them. And I'll try to write up a brief commentary type thing on each one so we know why we're doing what we're doing; I'll add some verses too, like we did the first two days. Let's plan on starting on the Monday after next (Nov. 17th).
"But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
Let's keep that in mind. We need to do this to grow in our love for Christ/our relationship with Christ.
Time to kill the sinful selves that have been ruling us for too long, eh?
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