Gbodtest's Blog

Announcement —

gbodtest — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:05:45 +0000

Friends, We’re no longer going to be able to support the Alive Now widget. We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes you. Beginning in January, 2011, the Daily Reflections will be available in the pages of the magazine and will also be provided online at the Alive Now website: alivenow.org. Please contact us if you have any comments or questions. We’d love to hear from you. alivenow@upperroom.org.

Sunday, July 18

gbodtest — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:01:42 +0000

Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. As you read the words of Psalm 52:1-7, think again of the collage you made. How do these words describe those situations? Stand before the collage and read out loud Psalm 52:8-9. How do these words describe both Mary and Martha? Draw a green tree and add it to your collage.

Saturday, July 17

gbodtest — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:01:06 +0000

Doreen Frick describes her relationship with the ordinary people of her prayer circle. As you read through the article think of the ways these women are like Mary and how they are like Martha. What would happen to the nature of the group if all of them were Mary or Martha? How does the diversity of the group make it whole?

Friday, July 16

gbodtest — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:01:37 +0000

In verses 15-20 of Colossians 1, Paul describes Christ and in verses 21-23a describe those who were once estranged from this good news and hostile to it. Look at the collage you made on Thursday. In light of your knowledge of Christ, what words or actions of good news can you bring to one of the situations you identified? Add these words to the collage.

Thursday, July 15

gbodtest — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Read Amos 8:4. Pick up the newspaper or go online to a new site. Find some examples of events in recent days when we [God’s people] have trampled on the needy and brought ruin to the poor. Cut out these news reports and write the words of Amos 8:4 in big letters on a piece of paper. Make a collage of these words and images; hang them on your refrigerator.

Wednesday, July 14

gbodtest — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:01:26 +0000

The story of Mary and Martha is a story about ordinary people doing ordinary things. Timothy Jones maintains in “The Friend We Can’t Do Without” is one who supports us with simple presence on the ordinary days. Spend some ordinary time with a friend today doing ordinary things. Give thanks to God for the simple presence of your friendship.

Tuesday, July 13

gbodtest — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:01:51 +0000

Finish reading passage in Luke 10:41-42. Now write a human-interest story about Martha. What would you say about her contributions to the local community, her church and her family? What positive things would you say about her personality? When you are finished, reflect on the ways you are like Martha.

Prayer for July 12-18

gbodtest — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:02:19 +0000

God of good news, make me like Mary ready to sit at your feet. Make me like Martha, ready to serve my friends. Amen.

Monday, July 12

gbodtest — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:01:58 +0000

Read the first portion of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-40. Imagine you a news reporter and are writing a human-interest story about Mary for a local paper. How would you describe her? What would you say about her contributions to the local community, her church, and her family? What positive things would you say about her personality? When you are finished, reflect on the ways you are like Mary.

Weekly Lectionary Texts, July 12-18

gbodtest — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:01:06 +0000

Amos 8:1-12
Psalm 52
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42