2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

This is my favorite scripture.  We all have talents and comforting is one of mine.  I love that God has chosen ways to comfort me and that in the learning of that comfort, I will be able to comfort another when the time comes.  

Lost a loved one? Had cancer? Had a miscarriage? Lost a job? Shared an experience?  When God offers comfort by placing some near us who has also experienced our need..... we get God with skin on. He comes even nearer to us.  I love this verse.  It brings me such comfort.

Deuteronomy 8:10

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. – Deuteronomy 8:10

Thousands of years after this verse was written, in the midst of a hard winter that killed half of their fellow travelers, the Pilgrims who settled America still had a lot to be thankful for. Just before they arrived, a plague had wiped out a hostile tribe that would have killed them. Fifteen years earlier, one member of that tribe had been taken to Europe, was taught English, became a Christian, and came back to America just in time to teach the Pilgrims how to survive. Thanksgiving is a reminder that we have a good God who rescues us in a broken world.
_____

This scripture instantly said to me that we pray at the end of the meal and thank him that our belly is full.  A very different take from what we normally see done and I think a fantastic thing to try differently. 

+++++++

I am richly blessed this week having spent 2 days in an Italian hospital.  I'm lucky, blessed and completely enriched that God has answered my prayers.  What a blessing, what a blessing.
I can't thank you enough God, there are just no words to convey the gratefulness I feel.

Penny

I don't know exactly what scripture as mine today, but I do know that this mone came to mind all day.
All can be done for the Lord witn only the faith of a mustrad seed. My faith is often small like that, but I want to  be bigger and so letting my faith be bigger right now be passionate, about my God right now in the little place that I can be.  it's important to me.  We have so much we could worry about right now, but we are taking the changes in stridge.

Colossians 1:10

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God – Colossians 1:10

According to Paul, truth is revealed by our lives, not just our thoughts. But the information age causes a problem: we think that because we’ve learned about something that we are living it. We want to gather data about prayer, but we fail to pray! But Paul reminds us that it’s the actual actions of our lives that proclaim the truth that we know. We know enough, now it’s time to apply. What do you need to apply today? Don’t try to get more information, do what you know now!

Today’s commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org



All these little nuggets are so important to me in knowing how to Grow in God and to please Him.  He makes it so simple.  I make it so hard!

Proverbs 3:27-28

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”- when you now have it with you. – Proverbs 3:27-28

In many ways our view of possessions, time, and money is exposed when we are faced with the inconvenient needs of a neighbor. Yet many times God is in the inconvenient moments — the times that we don’t want to help someone around us. Sometimes it takes a disaster like a hurricane or earthquake to activate people toward acts of service for each other, but for the Christian the Scripture tells us to act now! As we do, we may be surprised that we find Jesus in the person that we give water to, or the friend in the hospital, or the needy neighbor who needs an act of compassion. When God gives you the opportunity to serve those around you don’t let it pass by!

Today’s commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org