[Membersandfriends] Saturday, October 16, 2004

Fri Oct 15 22:01:11 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, October 16, 2004

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Making a Difference

By making available any of The Upper Room's all-ages family of magazines to nursing homes, hospitals, or your church, you'll help others grow in faith. Under this group order arrangement, you can give 10 or more copies of each issue for 50% off the cover prices.  To learn more about these "Standing Orders," visit:
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WHAT A BLESSING!
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1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NRSV)

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

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The LORD said to Abram, "I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."
-  Genesis 12:2 (NRSV)
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WHEN I agreed to help with vacation Bible school, it was mainly just to support my church.  But I was surprised when I witnessed the faith and love those first graders expressed for God.  I came away moved by their faith.

A few weeks later my nephew died unexpectedly.  I decided to visit my sister to comfort her.  But my visit was turned around; it was she who ministered to me as she demonstrated her strength in Christ.  When I left, I had been comforted.

Later on, the youth of our church were to lead evening worship.  That night I made sure I was there to support them.  But as I listened to the wonderful music, beautiful voices, stories, and prayers, I realized it was I who was being blessed.

In these three experiences I started out with a loving heart to try to be a blessing to others.  Each time, God also showered me with blessings.

Prayer:  Lord, help us to see all the blessings you shower on us each day.  Help us try to be a blessing to others.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Where have I experienced unexpected blessings?

-- Cissy Hewitt (Alabama, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: The youth of my church

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RELATED READING ...

Do you help lead young people to a more meaningful relationship with Christ?  THE GODBEARING LIFE is specially written to nurture the spiritual life of youth leaders and to help them identify the "holy ground" where young people are most likely to encounter God.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12616

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.