Kindness

The Tenth Day of Christmas

(Reuben said to his brothers), "Don’t murder him or even harm him." ~ Genesis 37:22a (CEV)

Our Father is kind; you be kind. ~ Luke 6:36 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

You can't go wrong by acting with kindness.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am a blessed recipient of your kindness. Thank you. I want to be kind, too. But it is really hard -- especially when someone has hurt me so badly. I need you to help bring kindness to the surface in me. Give me nice things to say to people who don't deserve nice words. Give me a smile for those who only know how to scowl. And give me pleasure in showing kindness to undeserving people. I'm going to act kindly -- just as you have acted kindly toward me. Amen.

Mercy, kindness, and fairness

The Ninth Day of Christmas

You have always been fair when you punished us for our sins. ~ Nehemiah 9:33 (CEV)

God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. ~ Titus 3:4-5a (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God is merciful, kind, and fair -- even when he is correcting us.

PRAYER:

THANKS: Thank you for treating us so well. Even when we deserve harshness, you are kind.

REGRETS: I'm sorry that I don't fully appreciate your mercy. I still try to act like I'm the one who makes things work out through all the good I do.

INTERCESSION: Help me to think clearly about the magnitude of your mercy, kindness, and fairness. Let that reality sink deep into my heart so that I'm transformed.

PURPOSE: This year I'm going to let your mercy rather than my aspirations drive my life.

Amen.

Pleasing God in 2017

The Eighth Day of Christmas
The Second Sunday in Christmastide

...Worship and serve God with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought... ~ 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT)

God gives peace... I pray that God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen. ~ Hebrews 13:20a, 21 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God is the one worth pleasing.

PRAYER:

Lord, as we begin a new year my prayer is that I might please you in 2017. That's my goal. But you know that already. For you know my heart and mind -- all the positive and all the negative. I know that I can't please you on my own so I ask that Jesus would help me. I'm looking forward to a good year of service to you. What higher goal could there be? Amen.

Living in peace

The Seventh Day of Christmas

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!... And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. ~ Psalm 133:1, 3b (NLT)

Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other... I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together. ~ 2 Corinthians 13:11b, 13 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

It's important (and desirable) to live together in peace and unity.

PRAYER:

Prince of Peace, you have blessed us with a truly unique unity. I'm thankful -- even though am not as serious about maintaining peace and unity as I should be. I pray that your Holy Spirit would continue his work of pulling us together. I want to be a team player. Amen.