Category: Thought for the Day

Are You Passing Lazarus on the Street?

Last week I went from Washington, DC to Chicago. What I noticed was more people on the streets of both cities begging—in one case a mother with a small child. And the other thing I noticed was north of 99.9% of people totally ignoring those people. Reminds me of Jesus talking about the story of Lazarus:

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:19-21

What happened? Lazarus died and went to heaven. The “rich man” died and went to hell. He lamented not having stopped and helped Lazarus when both were alive on earth.

Are you passing Lazarus on the street?

One more thing to think about that Jesus said:

Give to everyone who begs from you. Luke 6:30

Do you?

Have a great day!

Shine Some Light Today on a Dark World!

I am not a doom-and-gloom sayer but look around you—the world is a pretty dark place these days. Bombings, stabbings, shootings, and lots of animosity. It’s a rare day when we aren’t hearing about something bad happening. I am afraid the world is getting darker.

That’s where you and I come in. Today is a day to shed a little light on our dark world. It’s simple. Start with a smile, show some kindness to a stranger, and help someone in need. It’s not difficult. Just spend some time today thinking more about others than yourself. Let that light of God that is in you do some shining today.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Smile. Do good. Go out of your way for others. It’s not hard to let your light shine. Don’t keep your light under a basket today. Let it shine! The world needs your light!

Have a GREAT, shining week!

No One is Better Than You (And You’re Not Better Than Anyone!)

Paul sums it up in his letter to the Romans:

God shows no partiality. Romans 2:11

We are all totally equal in the eyes of God. If that were not the case, God would not be true God. He’d be like the jealous, vindictive, petty gods of myth.

God looks at you exactly—not somewhat, but exactly—like anyone else. That means you need to look at yourself exactly like anyone else. No worse or no better. You are equal.

In today’s world, maybe more than ever, we measure equality with things—money, houses, cars, clothes, etc. Well, I have news for you in case you don’t know it. God’s eyes see equality in a totally different light. Your eyes need to do the same.

No one—and I mean no one—gets to take those things along with them when they die. We all exit this world equally. We need to start living it equally.

Take a look around you as you walk down the street today. Equal. Equal. Equal. No matter who you see.

God shows no partiality. Shouldn’t you follow God’s lead?

Have a GREAT day and even better weekend!!!

Be Humble or Be Humbled?

You have a choice: Be humble or be humbled. Jesus said it pretty clearly:

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11

And that’s coming from someone who was the model of humility. Born in a stable to unassuming earthly parents. Worked as a carpenter for 90% of his life in total obscurity. Died the most humble of deaths after being tortured, spit upon, and insulted. Now, that’s humility!

Jesus doesn’t expect us to top Him. But He is the model of what true humility looks like. And even when they wanted to coronate Jesus as king He snuck off in humility.

Exalt yourself and be humbled. Humble yourself and be exalted. Interesting choice.

Have a GREAT day and even better weekend!

The Jesus Model of Service

In this country we talk about political “service.” It’s anything but “service” as intended by the founding fathers. Politics today is some combination of get-rich scheme and massaging egos. It’s not true service to others. Want to see real service in action? Look to Jesus.

Jesus came simply to serve. When they wanted to make him a king he snuck away. He simply lived for us and then died for us. He started humbly and died more than humbly. He played no favorites, especially those who wanted political advantage from him. He simply served.

There is no better model of service than Jesus. Every politician—especially those self-proclaimed “Christians”—should be reading the Jesus playbook on service. If they did this country would truly be in a better place, not to mention a better world.

Have a GREAT day! And trying serving today!

Your One-Word Summary of the Bible?

Some may summarize the Bible in one word as “God.” Others may say “Jesus.” I think the clear one-word summary of the Bible is “love.”

In the Old Testament, God commands us to love Him by loving others (“Love your neighbor as yourself” Leviticus 19:18). We didn’t do such a good job listening to God so He gave us His Son to walk in love for us. Before His death, Jesus repeated the command to “love” (“Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12).

The Bible is fundamentally all about love because life should be about love. Why? For starters, God commands it and Jesus lived it—to His death out of love for us.

Live a little—no, make that a LOT—in love today. And not just those who it is convenient to love!

Abundant Hope in Your Future!

There is not just a little hope in your future but abundant hope in your future. If you cast your life with Jesus what God said to Jeremiah…

“There is hope in your future.” Jeremiah 31:17

Comes to life in Jesus…

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 

Life is all about where your priorities are. Make your world your priority and live with what the world hands you. Make God your priority, truly following the life Jesus laid out for us, and there is abundant hope in your future. Every day is a great day with doors open up all over the place, regardless of any windows that close. Hope truly does spring eternal in Jesus’ footsteps. Follow them!

Have an abundant hope-filled day!

Pray Big Today!

Read this In the Company of Prayer and thought it was a good thought for the day:

“One of my most inspiring friends was the late Harlowe B. Andrews of Syracuse, one of the best businessmen and competent spiritual experts I ever knew. He said the trouble with most prayers is that they aren’t big enough. ‘To get anywhere in faith,’ he said, ‘learn to pray big. God will rate you according to the size of your prayers.’ Doubtless he was right, for Scripture says ‘According to your faith be it unto you.’ (Matthew 9:29)” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

Have a GREAT day and an even better week!

God Half Full or Half Empty?

The answer is neither. You are God total full. As full as you can get. God made you. God is in you. Up to the brim. You just may not know it or acknowledge it. But God does—if you let Him. Continue reading “God Half Full or Half Empty?”

Harnessing the Power of God

God created you. God is in you. God is woven into your very fabric. So, it stands to reason that you can do anything if you just BELIEVE that God is not only in you but is also behind you pushing. As Mets pitcher Tug McGraw years ago immortalized, “Ya Gotta Believe!” Of course, he was talking about baseball. I am talking about life. But the same words hold true—Ya Gotta Believe!!!

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 

Doubt is the universal cancer eating away at your amazing potential in life. I guarantee that almost all reading this now have doubts. “I can’t move mountains.” “That’s silly.” “I can’t do this or that.” Well, I beg to differ. BELIEVE and let it wipe all doubt away. You can move mountains. It’s all about harnessing that power of God in you. It’s in you!

Have a great week. Let belief rule this week, wiping all doubt away. And move some mountains!!! I know you can. Better yet—God knows you can and will if you just BELIEVE!