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June 2016
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
"The Meaning... Of Sacrifice..."
That cold, lonely day on that sad, yet large playground, seems to still be a piece of your mind...
You were quite happy though, seeing you were part of that 'popular crowd,' that everyone begged to be in!
You didn't have nothing to worry about; you smiled as everyone gave you attention, and nothing ever went out of balance, for this play time was the same, every day, every week, and on and on...
Nothing to worry about...
Until, that one day -- that one day, that changed everything...
** Hebrews 13:16 **
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Even as young as you were, things still seemed to catch your eye, and that day, something did.
You looked around, to see a girl, about your age, sitting on the ground, with a tear rolling down her face...
What was you to do?
You didn't want to look out of place...
And yet, that tug in your heart said different; that deep urge seemed to push you on!
You did the unheard of; you created a change, for you softly walked over to that girl, and asked her to play.
Things that happen through one's life, often stays with them!
Sometimes they are good, but more than often, they are bad...
What change are you leaving?
In this present world we move around, rushing from place to place, from task to task, on that ever continuing to do list, but sadly, we often miss the main thing that Christ sets in front of us during our day -- our fellow human!
Yes, going over to that girl on that playground was not the best thing in your day, cause you did take the chance of losing your friends, looking like an outcast yourself, doing something no one had done before, and above all, causing a change...
The true meaning of sacrifice, is usually overlooked; no one wants to (actually) be different, and no one wants to (actually) cause a change...
Jesus, 2,000 years ago, did something no one could, because He was the source of love, and He came even into our darkness!
He died on the cross, when around, they mocked Him; the tear rolled down His face, as the sin ached His bones, yet, His love for you, did change the world!
True sacrifice came from Jesus Christ!
God didn't make you to serve yourself.
God didn't make you to seek after fame, or fortune.
God didn't make you to simply please yourself.
God made YOU, because He loved you, and He knew, with the uniqueness He only gave you, that you could erupt that change!
Within the busyness, you look up to remember His sacrifice, then look down, to show someone else that sacrifice!
The sacrifice is your time, love, care, smile, or simply, taking a chance on change!
With Jesus, we can change the world!
Jesus loves you!!
For Jesus first loved me... <3
~M.K.
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"The Meaning... Of Sacrifice..."Sacrifice
1.
an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity.
2.
Christ's offering of himself in the Crucifixion.
3.
offer or kill as a religious sacrifice.
4.
give up (something valued) for the sake of other considerations.
A sacrifice doesn't have to be some great valuable or death. With the evolving world, people have more and more to do, with lessening time. Sometimes all we need to sacrifice is our time. At my church, from a tender age they instilled in us 'what you put in, is what you'll get out.'
If you sit at home on that Thursday night and you know service is being held and you say "I have too much to do, God will understand." He will. But when we make a habit of this, we drift apart from God. Many of my classmates, they don't go to church and their parents don't attend either. At the mention of devotion in the mornings, they start to eat, curse, sit and do all manner of things. But, the moment something happens to one of them the fist thing they say is "Jesus Christ!"
I believe it is good that Jesus is their first thought, but if I remember correctly, the bible says God helps those who help themselves. Because we are apart of the Royal family, doesn't mean we should take it for granted. Sometimes, all it takes, for our breakthrough is sacrifice.
At the moment, I don't remember where but, in the bible, there was a sick person who the disciples couldn't heal so they sent for Jesus and he came and healed him. The disciples then wondered, how He could do it and they couldn't and he said to them, ll these things, come by prayer and fasting. Which goes back to our time.
If we want from God, we have to give to God. As Mary Kate said in her devotion:
"God didn't make you to serve yourself.
God didn't make you to seek after fame, or fortune.
God didn't make you to simply please yourself.
God made YOU, because He loves you......."
I hope none of you mind that I'm sharing this devotion with you from The Daily Bread. So, this devotion isn't written by me, but I echo it completely with a loud "Amen"!When the minister asked one of his elders to lead the congregation in prayer, the man shocked everyone. “I’m sorry, Pastor,� he said, “but I’ve been arguing with my wife all the way to church, and I’m in no condition to pray.� The next moment was awkward. The minister prayed. The service moved on. Later, the pastor vowed never to ask anyone to pray publicly without first asking privately.
That man demonstrated astonishing honesty in a place where hypocrisy would have been easier. But there is a larger lesson about prayer here. God is a loving Father. If I as a husband do not respect and honor my wife—a cherished daughter of God—why would her heavenly Father hear my prayers?
The apostle Peter made an interesting observation about this. He instructed husbands to treat their wives with respect and as equal heirs in Christ “so that nothing will hinder your prayers� (1 Peter 3:7). The underlying principle is that our relationships affect our prayer life.
What would happen if we exchanged the Sunday smiles and the façade of religiosity for refreshing honesty with our brothers and sisters? What might God do through us when we pray and learn to love each other as we love ourselves? —Tim Gustafson
Father, You love all of Your children, but so often we fight and disagree. Help us learn to interact with love and respect in all our relationships so the world will see the difference You make. Teach us to pray.
Prayer is simply an honest conversation with God.
Thank you for sharing Karis! I loved that!!! My family used to read our daily bread for morning devotions every day, they're very inspirational!
Good devotion Karis.Guys, I apologize for missing my devotion, been very busy with school.
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Sorry I've been vanished y'all! );
This next week's topic is -- "The Meaning... Of Sacrifice..."
Love and prayer!!
Jesus loves you! �