November 13th - Let's Play!

Theme of the Day
Disappointment

Readings of the Day
James 1-My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
Jeremiah 21-22-See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Psalm 129-We bless you in the name of the LORD!
Revelation 16.1-7-Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just!

God's Word of the Day
People will disappoint you, but I will never fail you.

Story of the Day
Gather round while I show you something that you would never believe. We were at the county fair that day. The man was trying to get us to gather round him so that he could show us the "freaks." of the freak show. A show of the gathering of the uncommon people. People wrongly taken advantage of for monetary gain. People put on display because of their differences. The man made money off of these people. Yet the people were only given enough to survive. He justified what he was doing by believing that he was saving the lives of these people. He fed and housed the "freaks" just to make money off of them and advance his own well being. What a disappointment it was when I realized that I had fallen for his trick and his sales job. Years later this very act was shunned by enough of the visitors at the fair that this man couldn't make enough money to continue on. But what of the people? They were taken care of still. They continued to live their lives but now not as freaks, but as unique people. People with gifts of labor, people with gifts of love, people with gifts of who they are. They had endured the trial and been blessed with acceptance.

Prayer of the Day
Lord, show me the uniqueness of each person You have created. Let me rejoice in the beauty of Your people. Let me accept Your people and see Your gift of love in each one. All of us endure trial. All of us go through disappointment. You lovingly pull us through. You walk by our side and bring comfort and encouragement to go on. Go on even through the disappointment of people, and go on seeing You as our guide and strength. You are our blessing and truth. So, let me see the beauty of each of Your creations in the people I meet this day. ---Amen