30 Day Challenge ...

I 'borrowed' this idea from a friend's blog http://www.sleeplessmornings.com/2010/11/30-day-challenge-im-little-behind.html (who borrowed it from another blog http://thebabblingsofmere.blogspot.com/2010/10/thirty-day-challenge.html). 

So, I first ask myself, am I up for the challenge?  I haven't been a particularly faithful blogger, but I'm an dedicated scrapbooker/family historian.  First, as is normal for me, I'm bending the rules to suit me.   Yes, I understand it's supposed to be for the month of November, but because it's already the 7th I figure I'll dare to be different, so for me it's 30 days from the time I begin - 30 consecutive days is what I'm looking to do, but it may be 30 days by the end of 2010, we'll just see ...

In order to make this work for me I've decided to do my 30 days of blogging a little differently.  It would be fun to dig into a variety of questions on different topics, but I need something to hold my 30 days together, and something that will be a way of digging a little further into something I'm already doing.  What is it that I'll be blogging about?  Well, it's going to be an extension of my prayer time, a way of working through whatever my reading from The Bible and my Daily Devotional is for the day.  I have to admit that today I didn't do my normal routine which includes exercise (and watching mindless TV after I wander through emails on my Droid while on my exercise bike or stairclimber) and prayer.  So, I figured I'd do just a quickie introductory blog about my 'plans' for this next 30 days (or so).  Sort of commit myself to the idea by writing it down.  So, that is exactly what I'm doing here, making a commitment to myself, and anyone out there reading my blog, to write 30 blog posts in (hopefully) 30 days.  

Here's a bit of what I'm reading as I write this post ... the title of yesterday's Upper Room Devotional is 'Open Doors'  As I read through it I realized it was quite appropriate for this first post, so here I go ...

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

-1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

     ONE day I came to the checkout counter humming a gospel tune. The clerk said, "You certainly seem happy today." Bingo! A door opened. I replied, "Every day is a great day when you have Jesus in your heart." This opened the door for me to speak another word about my faith the next time I saw her.

     God is always working, and every day offers opportunities to proclaim the Good News. Whether we are at the supermarket, the gas station, the mall, or on the street, opportunities arise. Paul says in Colossians 4:3, "Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ." Every day before leaving the house, I pray, "Lord, help me to see the open doors today, and give me the courage to tell someone the good news of Jesus Christ."

     Doors of opportunity open for every believer, and many people need to hear of God's grace. Who is willing to talk about the wonderful grace of Jesus Christ? If you and I don't tell them, who will?

Today's Prayer ... Dear God, help us respond to the open doors of opportunity you put before us so that we may tell the good news of Christ each day.  Amen.

And, the Thought for the Day ... Look for ways to speak of your faith to those around you.

And, lastly, Prayer Focus ... For courage to speak about my faith.