– Scripture:

               Reaching Out

It’s easy to look at someone like Zacchaeus, a dishonest and despised tax collector, and make judgments, to find fault and condemn, and stay away. But Jesus came down to lift, to heal, to restore every person.

                            Luke 19:9-10 MSG

 – Reflection:

It’s easy to look at someone like Zacchaeus, who could be linked to a person such as a street pharmacist or a dishonest and despised tax collector, and make judgments, to find faults and condemn them, and stay away. But Jesus came down to lift, heal, and restore every person. Yesterday was a holiday that brought everyone together. Think of a person like Zacchaeus. Would he have been welcome at anyone else’s table but those whom he took care of? Jesus says he came to restore every person, even those who are despised. Lift even the worst of us up and help them turn away from what they have become. Show them a better way to be, by being what Christ created you to be now. Be that new thing that inspires.

Where do we go from here?

Since God stooped down for you, why don’t you stoop down for someone else? Why don’t you reach out and love them? There’s enough judgment in our world today. There’s enough criticism and fault-finding. Let’s be lifters. Let’s be encouragers. Let’s help someone else experience the God who stoops. 

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for freely giving us Your mercy that we might freely give it to others. Thank You that we can stoop to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. Help us be willing to love people who are messy and not turn away from them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 – Scripture:

                  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

                                  1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 MSG

 – Reflection:

Wishing all of you the best day possible with all of your loved ones and friends. Enjoy the day and soak all of it in. Allow those blessings of health and strength to wash over you and be what is needed on this day.

 Where do we go from here?

You make today the best day possible, loving on all those around you.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for today and all the families that are able to gather because of you, may we all bring honor to your name as your son Jesus did. Amen.

 – Scripture:

                  Thankful for Community

And so Israel settled down in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property and flourished. They became a large company of people. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years.

                                   Genesis 47:27-28 MSG

 – Reflection:

The community of Israel is what I liken our community to; we started small and began to grow, which is where we are now. In this phase, the attitudes and personalities all come together to make up a place where adults and kids alike are welcome and can thrive and grow. Sometimes, the story of Joseph is one that I sometimes feel I am aligned with. He had a tough life but overcame his adversity and served his community and family well despite what his family did to him. My hardships are different from his, but the trials I faced seem similar to mine. Our community is for everyone, just our family. If you need a meal, we got you; you need a ride to practice, we got you. Discipline is needed in all communities, and we meter it out as it is needed, just like in Joseph’s community. It is a blessing to be a part of a community that allows for real people to live and exist.

Where do we go from here?

If you don’t have a community, you need to find one so that you can be with others in a space that is safe for you and your family. We are always welcoming and ready to meet new people. Find a group that allows you to be yourself, like your own personal family, and build with them. GOD is in the community; he will always be there for all who are looking for him. 

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for the community you have provided us with. May we all be thankful for those within the circles that you have placed us in. Amen.

 – Scripture:

                Loving your Family to the Fullest

Then Esther again spoke to the king, falling at his feet, begging with tears to counter the evil of Haman the Agagite and revoke the plan that he had plotted against the Jews. The king extended his gold scepter to Esther. She got to her feet and stood before the king. She said, “If it please the king and he regards me with favor and thinks this is right, and if he has any affection for me at all, let an order be written that cancels the bulletins authorizing the plan of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite to annihilate the Jews in all the king’s provinces. How can I stand to see this catastrophe wipe out my people? How can I bear to stand by and watch the massacre of my own relatives?”

                             Esther 8:3-6 MSG

 – Reflection:

Like Esther, I will protect my family as she did with my life. What will you do for your family? Throughout life, we all create and become a part of different families. There is the work-family that you are a part of at your work if you are fortunate enough. Then there is the family that brings you together with your children, whether it is sports or some other gathering surrounding an activity for your child.  Still, there is the group that you choose to do life with everything that you do, serving the community and others along with others with a like mind to accomplish a bigger goal of seeing the community grow for the better. I have a few families that I enjoy spending time with, although not as much with either as I would like. God has a plan for all of us, and we all have to follow that plan to the letter to see a better place for our children and those who can’t do it for themselves. During this holiday week, celebrate and honor the people you care about.

Where do we go from here?

During this week of Thanks, we should think about those who have helped us along the way to become the people we are today. Let’s honor those special in our lives during this Thanksgiving week.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for giving me so many people in my life to be thankful for, from my immediate family, whom I support throughout the week, to those I see that are a part of the blessing of helping kids become better at life through our organization. Still, some have been a part of our lives from the beginning and know who they are, and need to be recognized as well. It is with great honor that I ask you to bless these people and those who are even closer to us, Jesus. In your name, we can say. Amen

– Scripture:

                            Why I am Thankful