As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Theresa Benson):

Remember when you were learning how to ride a bike?

I started out with training wheels, and then came the day that my parents took them off and held on to the back of the seat as I wobbled down the street.

I were determined to be a BIG KID and ride a two-wheeler. Focused on staying upright and headed straight, I didn’t have time to worry about being laughed at. I remember my Mom telling me to look straight ahead and not at the pavement, and that I wouldn’t fall as much. You know what? She was right. And once I got going, I hadn’t a care in the world, and felt like I could go anywhere.

What happened to that child in all of us? How was it that I could learn to do something so scary — and with so much potential of wiping out?

And why am I so afraid of failing now?

Back then, it was because I knew that if I fell (and I did, many times), that Mom would be there to clean up the scrapes and put on Band-Aids and make it all better.

Life’s like that, I think. For a lot of our lives, we’re riding around with training wheels. We’re in our comfortable lives and feel safe. We might wish we could be one of the “big kids” who’s riding around without training wheels, living a purposeful, passionate, Christ-filled life, but that’s awfully scary from where we’re sitting.

God asks us to take off the training wheels and try doing things differently — doing God’s work here on earth — finding God’s purpose for our lives and living it to the fullest.

We might try it out a little bit, but we keep “focused on the pavement” rather than looking straight ahead and trusting that if we wobble and fall, God will be there make it better. So we decide to put the training wheels back on and stay in our comfortable lives, wishing we could be like the “other kids,” but sure we can never do it.

Today’s passage reminds me of what my Mom told me years ago. It’s God’s way of saying, “Keep focused straight ahead. Don’t worry about scraping your knee. If you do, I’ll be there and I’ll take care of you.”

So go on. Try something that you know God’s been calling you to do. And stop worrying — you’ll pick it up in no time.

It’s just like riding a bike.

Thought for the day: What “training wheels” am I still using? Is there some area where I need to learn to ride like a “big kid”?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Theresa Benson):

He grew up like any other child, but he had a talent that distinguished him from the rest. It was this talent that became his passion. At the age of thirteen, he wrote his first software program, which played tic-tac-toe, all done on rented computer equipment. He and his friend Paul met at that grade school, and their shared interests in computer programming bonded their friendship.

He shared a special bond with his father, with baseball as their first love. However, following his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized and was a spectacular athlete in his own right, he began to play basketball. But as a 5-11 skinny high school sophomore, he was cut from the varsity basketball team.

It’s easy to look at Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan and Phil Knight (co-founder of Nike) and want to be like them because of their wealth, fame and power. But if we do that, we’re setting ourselves up for stress and heartbreak before we begin.

Don’t get me wrong — God’s desire for us is that we flourish and thrive. But it’s not the world’s definition of prosperity that we should focus on, nor should we let worries and struggles make us afraid to pursue what we’re meant to do and be.

The author of this passage isn’t saying ‘give up everything, live on the street, sit back and do nothing and trust that God will provide.’ God has dreamed bigger dreams for us that we can ever imagine. And like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, it’s our job to find a way to live as God created us. By putting God’s purpose for our lives ahead of our material desires, amazing things can happen.

It can be seductive to stay where we are. It’s familiar. It may be comfortable. But we all know (or may be) people who, deep down, are insecure, credit-burdened, and shackled to jobs and lives they no longer recognize — but who are terrified of taking a step toward their God-given purpose because they can’t see how it’s all going to come together and are worried of losing the semi-misery they know and losing their dream as well.

Michael Jordan didn’t stop playing basketball when he was cut from the team. Oprah Winfrey, molested while in the care of her mother, didn’t see how a poor black girl would make it on the news, but she applied anyway and was a TV reporter before she left high school.

Seek first what God is asking you to do. Then, find a small way to do it. Don’t worry about fame, fortune and power. Those are all impermanent and don’t give anyone true fulfillment.

Over the last year, it’s become clear to me that my passion lies in being a writer, teacher, and counselor. So, I’m finding small ways to add that into my life, including writing Be Still articles. Who knows what my next steps will be, but I’m happy with the direction I’m heading, and I just try to keep myself focused on God.

Thought for the day: What do you feel God is calling you to do in life? If you’re confused or worried, have you stopped to make sure you’re putting God first in all things?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Julie Walsh):

We reap what we sow. Treat others well, and we will be treated well in return. Invest ourselves in the kingdom and we will be abundantly blessed. This is a basic concept — it’s the common lesson gleaned from this passage.

But as I think about the concept of reaping and sowing, I can’t help but evaluate this concept from a different perspective. I like to call it the Theory in Reverse.

Theory of Reaping and Sowing: What we do or say is what we get in return.

Theory in Reverse: What we observe, live with, and work with will penetrate our soul and shape what our character becomes.

More simply stated, reaping has been based on what we give out, but in the reverse theory we end up reaping what we take in.

The people we surround ourselves with can ultimately shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. While we cannot control others’ every response, we can place ourselves in environments that help us on our own journey so that we may, in turn, be a benefit to others.

Take this quick quiz:

In your place of work, are your boss and co-workers

Complacent… Critical… Vulgar?

Or are they

Uplifting… Productive… Enthusiastic?

In your relationship, is your partner

Angry… Reactionary… Defensive?

Or is s/he

Calm… Gentle… Nurturing?

In your place of worship, are the members

Judgmental… Haughty… Insincere?

Or are they

Passionate… Thoughtful… Welcoming?

So, what will you become?

Keep yourself in a negative environment long enough and you will begin to adapt to these behaviors — ever so gradually, even unconsciously. Eventually you may realize you have changed and wonder how you developed such a mucky attitude. But put yourself in an environment filled with love and grace, and your own soul will embrace the peace that it carries with it.

It’s just like the old adage: You are what you eat. Stuff yourself daily with cheesy poofs and donuts, and you will turn out looking like one. Eat a balanced diet and you will reap the health benefits.

When you have found a healthy balance because of the people you have chosen to surround yourself with, you will be better equipped to serve in the kingdom. Because your integrity is not being challenged and you do not have to battle the negative forces stampeding your space, you can focus on serving the world by Christ’s example!

Thought for the day: Reflect upon the character that you wish to become. Evaluate your environment and determine if you can become that person while occupying that space.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (David Zier):

When I was at college in Florida in the early 1980s, I met an older woman, Marion Baker, who was very active with Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and Gay Community Services (GCS) in central Florida. She was also the receptionist at the USDA facility I worked at during my first year of college.

A few years later, she experienced cancer, was treated, but then it recurred and spread, and she did not have much time to live. I was living in Maryland at the time and had not seen her in almost 10 years.

Upon hearing the news, I took the train to New Smyrna, just south of Daytona, to spend a weekend with her at her daughter’s home. You see, she was important to me because she was like a mother to me when I was coming out. I was alone in Florida, and she provided a motherly figure in my life when I had no family around. Within days after I returned home, she was on her way to meet Jesus.

I spent time with her daughter that weekend helping to sort out belongings and “stuff” that had been in Marion’s home prior to the decline in her health. I remember looking at the furniture, the lamps, clothes, and boxes of stuff and at first seeing Marion in the things that she had, but then realizing how this stuff did not really matter. What mattered was the treasure that Marion left in my heart, what she meant to my life, and to many, many others. Marion did not just treasure people — she planted a treasure in each heart she came in contact with.

In today’s passage, the message is clear: where we put our treasure, there our hearts will be. But I think we need to remember that we are supposed to give our treasure away, and be generous with what we have. Marion’s treasure was not in her stuff, but with people she cared deeply about. She showed God’s grace and love to all of God’s creatures, and brought a little more of heaven here to earth.

Thought for the day: What do you do with your treasures? Are you storing up your treasures on earth, or are you living a generous life and sharing the treasure of Jesus with others?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Tom Chittenden):

This September will mark six years since we experienced the 9/11 tragedy — and our government would have us believe that the long war against terrorism is far from over. While terrorism and those who commit it will always be assigned the title “enemy”, there is another, more personal war being waged by the Accuser — and the destruction it produces is called complacency. If you have not already done so, please, stop and read today’s scripture text.

God knew the Israelites were going to be very well off in Canaan. He knew they were going to prosper because He had made a promise to them. But God also knew His children much better than they knew themselves. He knew they would become self-satisfied and unconcerned, and would continue doing whatever made them happy (regardless of the consequences). Sound at all familiar?

What happens if we get complacent about our marriage or any committed relationship — someone will be unhappy and they may even leave. If we get complacent about our children, it is likely they will become involved in behaviors that could ruin their lives. Students that get complacent about their classes will end up failing or barely passing, having little or nothing to show for time spent.

Police officers and firefighters who get complacent are killed or kill someone else. Teachers who become complacent in holding their students to their highest potential allow them to suffer later on. Pastors, Lay Leaders and Churches oftentimes slip into complacency when everyone is content. Christians end up “doing” Church rather than “being” the Church.

God told the Israelites, “Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey Him.” Today, I don’t believe it’s so much a matter of “forgetting God” as much as it is taking God for granted, and being complacent about what God asks of us.

The father of all lies, Satan, Prince of Darkness, the oldest terrorist known to humanity is stubborn, persistent and hates the child of God. He attacks us not by telling us there is no God, but rather that He is a loving God who forgives everything, so go on and do whatever you want to do. He is devious and this Terrorist goads us into being complacent as we become content in this land of plenty, becoming “takers” rather than “givers”. Remember this: There are always consequences to greed and ingratitude — always!

Thought for the day: Generous living begins with a conscious commitment to living a life of constant gratitude. You can never really keep what you are unwilling to give away. This applies to our resources of time, money and spiritual gifts.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Jeff Miner):

Today’s Scripture passage was authored by the Apostle Paul. Paul is widely regarded as the greatest missionary in the history of the Christian faith. Paul spent several decades traveling the Roman Empire, planting churches in key locations. His subsequent letters to those churches form the core of the New Testament. God used Paul to transform Christianity from a regional movement to a global one.

Today’s Scripture passage is a letter Paul wrote to a Church he planted in Philippi, located in what is now the nation of Turkey. Apparently, the Philippian Church regularly sent money to support Paul’s ministry, and now Paul is thanking them.

As I ponder this passage, the phrase that jumps out at me is found in verse 17 – “the profit that accumulates to your account.” By giving to God’s work through Paul, “profit” was accumulating in the “accounts” of the Philippians. What does that mean? What form does that “profit” take?

Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 10:41, “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.” The term “prophet” means someone who is a messenger for God. In ancient times, prophets often traveled to spread their message. To sustain their ministry, they were dependent upon people taking them into their home and feeding them during their travels. According to Jesus, a person who does this — who uses his resources to support a prophet’s ministry — will receive the same spiritual reward as the prophet.

The Philippians were using their resources to support Paul’s travels. By doing so, they gained an “investment share” in Paul’s ministry. Think of it! Some lowly blacksmith in Philippi who gave a portion of his hard-earned money to his Church to support Paul was, by his generosity, becoming a full partner in Paul’s ministry. In God’s eyes, that blacksmith is partially responsible for every soul converted through Paul’s message, every person healed by Paul, every Church planted by Paul, and every New Testament letter written by Paul — because none of what Paul was doing would have been possible without the generosity of people like the blacksmith.

When that blacksmith stands before God, the significance of his life will be measured not just by what he did directly, but by what his giving made possible. By that standard, the blacksmith will receive the same reward from God as the greatest Christian missionary to ever live. Not a bad investment for the blacksmith!

Viewing our giving this way really helps us see how important (and rewarding) giving can be. Our giving allows us to participate in some of the most exciting things happening in the world today.

For example, suppose you put a $30 check in the offering plate at our Church last week. You cannot imagine the difference that generosity will make! Gifts like that made it possible for our Church, this week, to send 100 free copies of The Children Are Free: Re-examining The Biblical Evidence On Same-sex Relationships to a missionary who is preparing to spend two months this summer in Kenya, sharing a message of hope. He will lead gay Kenyans, who have only heard messages of condemnation, in small group studies of our book. They will meet in small groups, rather than one large group of 100, to avoid calling attention to themselves and igniting anti-gay passions in that repressive country.

Think of it! When you stand before God in heaven, you’ll receive the same reward as that missionary who is taking great personal risk to travel to Kenya this summer to share an underground message of hope!

Thought for the day: Your giving is having ripple effects that you will not be able to fully appreciate until you stand before God and hear the litany of wonderful things that occurred because of your generosity.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.