Motivational Monday-Pursuing Purity

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Recently, I read an article on purity and realized that this is a topic I need to spend time with more often. Why the need to study purity you might ask? God wants us to have pure hearts-James 4:8. What better reason is there? So, how can we have pure hearts?

            First, we must obey God’s word. 1 Peter 1:22 tells us that we purify our souls “in obeying the truth.” Second, we must keep a constant watch on our hearts and lives. Paul commanded Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:22 to “keep thyself pure.” We are to do the same. We are to abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).  Thirdly, we must think pure thoughts. Our lives are the product of our thoughts (Prob. 23:7), therefore we must meditate on things that are pure. Philippians gives us a list of things that we should keep on our mind…

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Php. 4:8

            Finally, we purify our hearts by being motivated to do so. Our motivation is hope. In 1 John 3:3 we read, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” As Christians, we desire to go to heaven and spend eternity with our Heavenly Father. When delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that the pure in heart would see God. We want to see God, so let us “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22).

Silent Sunday

a country road on a late summer afternoon

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Genesis 8:22

Saturday Service Ideas-Be a Cheerful Giver

When I visit, I like to take a little something with me-just a small gift to hopefully brighten someone’s day. So here are a few of my ideas that might inspire you as well…

• Take a vase flowers to ladies. Younger or older in years, this gesture is always appreciated.
• If you’re visiting a family or a couple, bake a loaf of banana or blueberry bread. Don’t have a recipe for those? There are a whole host of other breads to bake and everyone enjoys something homemade.
• Make a pot of soup for supper and share a meal with one of the widows or widowers of your congregation.
• Visiting a new member to the congregation? Wrap up hand soap and a dishtowel for their home to help welcome them to the family. Candles also make great gifts for this occasion!
•  Drop off a get well basket that includes tissues, hand sanitizer, bottled water or Gatorade, Lysol, crackers and canned chicken noodle soup.
• Care baskets are often made for residents of nursing homes during the holidays but why not take a small version when you visit year round? Include items such as: pens, post-it notes or notepads, tissues, lotion, hand soap, socks/houseshoes, peppermints, chapstick, gum, peanut butter crackers, colorful flexible straws, hand sanitizer, etc.

There are so many other great ideas out there but hopefully these will get you started!

“It is impossible,” said pride. “It is risky,” said experience. “It is pointless,” said reason. “Give it a try,” whispered the heart.

Fill-Your-Cup-Friday-Falling for Fall

        Fall or autumn, whichever name you choose, has always been my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air, colorful leaves, and beginning of the holiday season. I look forward to pumpkin patches, apple cider, cornstalks, football, roasting marshmallows and hayrides. I enjoy decorating my home with the colors of fall and I love looking on Pinterest for ideas to help me. Below are a few of my own creations, some inspired by Pinterest, but with my own twist. I hope it inspires you or at least helps to get you in the harvest time mood.

So this is my table centerpiece. I already had the red, footed stand (via Southern Living) and the candles. I’ve found that the best decoration is using items you already have. I knew I wanted to do a candle centerpiece and what better way to make this a fall display than to add pinecones and hickory nuts. Most of you have these in your backyard-so it’s free! Just spray a little colorful paint onto the pinecones and ta-da! A beautifully, simply centerpiece for your table. If you don’t have a stand like mine, try it with a cake stand…

 

          It really doesn’t take lots of money to decorate your home tastefully, just a little imagination, determination and a lot of help from Pinterest!