READ:

Read or listen to Acts 1:1-11 which is the same passage you read on Tuesday. What stands out to you this time?

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

FOCUS:

Reflecting on what God has been teaching you about generosity this week, what is one thing you can do this next week to put that into practice? How can you be generous with your time, talent, and treasure with where God has called you throughout the week? Make a plan to do it and try to have a new action step each week during this series.

PRAY:

Use this prayer of generosity.

Heavenly Father, we confess we are selfish people. We are so inwardly focused that we often do not consider the needs of those around us. You call us to be generous because You have been so generous with us. We are blessed to be a blessing, but we tend to hoard our blessings in fear. We say we trust You for all things, but our lives demonstrate a lack of this type of trust. Help us live generously. Help us consider others. Help us stop living in fear. Through the power of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit we ask these things, Amen.
-from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church