Close To My Heart - October 28, 2010

Daily Reading

Luke 16-17:10

Daily Verse

"No servant can serve two masters.

Either he will hate the one and love the other,

or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and Money."

Luke 16:13

Daily Thought

Standing on crowded Wall Street, pedestrians crisscrossing this way and that, Bill stopped and listened. "I hear a cricket," he smiled.

"You can't," countered Gary. "Horns honking, people everywhere. No way!"

Bill shrugged, walked 25 feet to a sidewalk planter, reached into the shrub and produced the prize. "Here he is."

"How did you do that?"

"Watch." Bill pulled some coins from his pocket and tossed them on the concrete sidewalk. The bustle of the crowd quieted - just for a moment - and all eyes looked to the money.

"We pay attention to whatever is closest to our heart."

The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts."
~Luke 16:14-15

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

You have my heart, God. I will turn my will toward You and listen to Your Words. I love You and want my life to be Your pleasure.

When I see Your handiwork in this world, a changed life, a good decision, a serving hand, it warms me up and makes me smile. God, You are so good. I pray that I will pay attention to the opportunities around me, that I will love others, that I will find my greatest joy in serving this world in Your Name. Protect me from the temporary delights of this world, and I will keep my eyes focused on the delight of Your Kingdom.

Amen.

We Still Build Totem Poles - September 30, 2010

Daily Reading

Malachi 1-4

Daily Verse

When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?

When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong?

Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?

Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.

Malachi 1:8

Daily Thought

Totem Poles: Sculptures carved from large trees

by 19th century Native Americans,

depicting events, legends, and people,

often ordered in importance from bottom to top.

Saturday. Garage Sale Day.

"Why are you selling the barbecue?"

"Just built a backyard kitchen.

Don't need this anymore."

"Anything wrong with it?"

"The auto-igniter doesn't work

and the flames are a bit uneven.

It could use some TLC."

"How much?"

"I was asking $50 on Craigslist.

No takers. You can have it for 25.

If it doesn't sell, I'm giving it to my church."

We still build totem poles.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, may You fill my life with Your desires, Your passions, Your wisdom. May I love You first, most, and always. May my love for You be reflected in what I do, what I buy, what I keep, and what I give. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, and the actions of my self be a testimony of Your goodness and Your greatness, and of my devotion to You.

Amen.

With All My Love - July 4, 2010

Daily Reading

2Kings 9-11

Daily Verse

When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Have you come in peace, Jehu?"

"How can there be peace," Jehu replied, "as long as all the idolatry

and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"

2Kings 9:22

Daily Thought

When you say "I do," you stop singing

a little bit of Monica in my life

a little bit of Erica by my side
a little bit of Rita is all I need
a little bit of Tina is what I see
--Mamba No. 5

When you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, there is no little bit left for Jezebel.

Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
--Proverbs 7:25-27

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, You are my God. All of me. I give my life fully to You. May my heart never stray, my thoughts never delight in other things, my eyes never wander. I will cast aside all things that could distract me from my devotion to You.

What amazes me, God, is that when I seek You first and only, all that I truly desire is mine. I lose nothing and gain eternity. But if I take my eyes off You and chase the world, I gain nothing and lose my soul.

Lord, may my love for You never falter. I know Your love for me never has.

Amen