Sunday, August 28
2 Kings 4:1-2 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me what do you have in your house?
Prayer: O God, we give thanks that in faith you provide somewhere to turn in our hour of need.
Thought for the day: Special listening is needed to hear the cry of the destitute.
Monday, August 29
Leviticus 19:10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.
Prayer: O God in Heaven, you have designed a way to care for your children on earth.
Thought for the day: Even the crumbs that are dedicated to God can be recycled to God’s glory.
Tuesday, August 30
Deuteronomy 10: 18, 19 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we honor you as the one offers to all a welcome home.
Thought for the day: In heaven there is always room in the inn.
Wednesday, August 31
Psalm 146:9 The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Prayer: Lord God, whether we find ourselves near or far from home even now you are watching over us.
Thought for the day: The songwriter said, “You promised never to leave us, never to leaves us alone.”
Thursday, September 1
Luke 20: 46, 47 Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted to the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.
Prayer: Jesus, keep us honest in our dealings and keep us generous in our caregiving.
Thought for the day: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but never, never, can you fool the Lord.
Friday, September 2
Mark 12: 42, 43 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.”
Prayer: Jesus, all sincere praise and sacrifice to you is precious in your sight.
Thought for the day: The excise tax on insincerity results in deficit spending.
Saturday, September 3
James 1: 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Prayer: Jesus, give us strength of will and wherewithal to care for your children in need.
Thought for the day: In our love for God’s children, God sees our worship of him.
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photo: “Prophet Elisha” by Nick Thompson on http://www.flickr.com
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