Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Hebrews 3:7–14 (NRSV)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
as on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your ancestors put me to the test,
though they had seen my works for forty years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts,
and they have not known my ways.’
As in my anger I swore,
‘They will not enter my rest.’”

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.

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Reflect

“Good morning, sweet darling! How are you today?” Miss Carol, a lady who has endured much sickness and heartache in her own life, loves to make other people smile. Now a grandmother to three beautiful (and almost grown) children, she has been an encourager for many years.

From witnessing to a nurse at her own hospital bedside to offering inspiring words to a caregiver having a bad day, Miss Carol takes the advice of Hebrews 3:13 to heart.

Throughout her membership in our church, she has served as a greeter, a choir member, a preschool teacher, a women’s group leader, and a session member. However, one of her greatest joys comes from sending cards.

Miss Carol touches the lives of others by sending cards to our congregation on a daily basis. Her birthday greetings often contain smiley faces or handwritten bookmarks, and her sympathy cards always include personal notes to the recipient. She never forgets to acknowledge a birth, an illness, or a death. Her cards for all occasions regularly bless others with unexpected smiles.

Miss Carol hears God’s voice and encourages other people daily with her simple, yet effective ministry.

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Pray

Dear Lord, help me to encourage others with my kind words and my smiles. Make me a blessing to someone today. Amen.

Go with God.