Day 300

Scripture: Ps 103, 114, 115; Deuteronomy 8:1-3; Colossians 1:1-14; John 6:30-33, 48-51


Scripture standout: Ps 115: "Lord, may glory be given to you, not to us. 
      You are loving and faithful."

Deuteronomy 8: "² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way. He guided you in the desert for these 40 years. He wanted to take your pride away. He wanted to put you to the test and know what was in your hearts. He wanted to see whether you would obey his commands.

 ³ He took your pride away. He let you go hungry. Then he gave you manna to eat. You and your parents had never even known anything about manna before. He tested you to teach you that man doesn't live only on bread. He also lives on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

³⁰ So they asked him, "What miraculous sign will you give us? What will you do so we can see it and believe you? ³¹ Long ago our people ate the manna in the desert. It is written in Scripture, 'The Lord gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "—(Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25)

John 6: "

 ³² Jesus said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ The bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven. He gives life to the world."

his Deed/The Day: So finally, the 300-day mark appears! It took forever to get out of the 200s! Now there's just 100 days left of the challenge. We ordered pizza tonight from a new restaurant down the street that delivers. The young man who brought it was nervous and eager, telling me it was his first night on the job. Gave him a good luck and a nice tip...

Day 299

Scripture: Ps 72:1-7, 10-14; Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2: 1-12


Scripture standout: Ephesians 3: "² Through him and through faith in him we can approach God. We can come to him freely. We can come without fear."

Matthew 2: "⁹ After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.

 ¹¹ The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh."

His Deed/The Day: Put $1 in an empty tip jar at the yogurt store.

Day 298

Scripture: Ps 2, 110:1-7; Ps 29, 98; Jonah 2:2-9; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 11:17-27, 38-44


Scripture standout: 


Ephesians 6: "Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all of God's people."


John 11: "²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if he dies. ²⁶ And those who live and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

 ²⁷ "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God. I believe that you are the One who was supposed to come into the world."

His Deed/The Day: Prayers for someone who got an awful diagnosis.

Day 297

Scripture: Ps 85, 87, 89:1-29; Joshua 3:14—4:7; Ephesians 5:1-20; John 9:1-12, 35-38


Scripture standout: 


Ephesians 5: "⁸ At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light. ⁹ The light produces what is completely good, right and true. ¹⁰ Find out what pleases the Lord."


John 9: "¹ As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. ² Jesus' disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he sinned? Or did his parents sin?"

 ³ "It isn't because this man sinned," said Jesus. "It isn't because his parents sinned. This happened so that God's work could be shown in his life."

His Deed/The Day: Before I forget, I have to share this incredible story from yesterday's long run. So RB and I had just started out on a 17-miler. We were yacking about getting things for the kids and how expensive some things are and how you can't do it all the time, and how husbands beef about it and blah, blah, blah money grumbles this that and the other. Next thing I know, RB looks behind her and turns back, shrieking! She found two $10 bills on the sidewalk. Not a $20, but two $10 bills — one for me, one for her. What timing! Today's deed: Not sure how big of a deed it was, but I tried something new. At Publix, the baggers are so nice and they're always so eager to take your groceries out to the car for you. My pat answer is always a smile and a "no thanks, I got it." This time, I had a box of fried chicken and a box of mashed potato mix (Ben's favorites — we were celebrating his Spelling Bed win..BOMBASTIC!), and a four-pack of Cheerwine. As always, the bagger was ready to walk me out with my pithy booty. Something just let me say yes this time. We had a nice walk to the car, it was a beautiful afternoon — crisp, sun was shining. I started wondering if saying yes means a frenzied bagger gets a breath of fresh air and sunshine. I'll contemplate that better next time.

Day 296

Scripture: Ps 68, 72; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Ephesians 4:17-32; John 6:15-27


Scripture standout: Ephesians 4: "³¹ Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Put away every form of hatred. ³² Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done."


John 6: "¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the water became rough. ¹⁹They rowed three or three and a half miles. Then they saw Jesus coming toward the boat. He was walking on the water. They were terrified.

 ²⁰ But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."

 ²¹ Then they agreed to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore where they were heading."

His Deed/ The Day: Freezing today! Finally! Dentists are in the rearview mirror and a long run is in my sights later this morning. Kids are going back to school and routine now reigns once more....Today's deed: sending a little shout out to a mom.

Day 295

Scripture: Ps 34, 33; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:1-14


Scripture standout: Ephesians 4: "¹⁶ He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together."


His Deed/The Day: Today I have to go to the dentist for a three-hour appointment. My goodness, if he doesn't jack me down to a laid, laid, laid back way with the gas, I'm going to freak. I don't like the dentist at all. Nothing about it appeals — the visual, the sounds, the smell, the taste. It is an epic sensory fail.

Today's deed is going to express thanks and kudos to someone who threw a very interesting New Year's Day gathering yesterday. In anyone else's book, it would have been a disaster. But not to her, and what a curiously entertaining event unfolded!

Below is today's Forward Day by Day devotional. I believe this wholeheartedly! You give what you have, and God uses you in big ways:

John 6:1-14. There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?

A crowd followed Jesus up a mountain. Jesus asked his disciples where they could buy food for them all. One disciple thought they didn’t have enough money. Then they noticed a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus told the crowd to sit down. He took the bread and the fish, gave thanks to God, and the food multiplied. There was more than enough for everyone.

Many readers focus on Jesus’ miraculous powers in this story. But what about that boy? He could have hidden his food under his clothes or simply figured that it wasn’t enough. Instead, he offered what he had.

After the earthquake in Haiti, a small group of children in a Sunday School class wanted to raise money for relief. They held a bake sale on a Sunday morning and challenged other classes to do the same. The next group had another bake sale and raised even more money. Another class sold bracelets. Ideas and proceeds kept multiplying so that the whole congregation was involved. It all started with that first small group.

It’s easy to think that what we have to give is small and insignificant. That boy offered what he had. When we offer what we have, God multiplies our gifts. What might be your small offering today?

Day 294

Scripture: Ps 8; Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:15-21

Scripture standout: Numbers 6: "²⁴ " ' "May the Lord bless you 
      and take good care of you. 
 ²⁵ May the Lord smile on you 
      and be gracious to you. 
 ²⁶ May the Lord look on you with favor 
      and give you his peace." 

Galatians 4: "⁶ Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. He is the Holy Spirit. By his power we call God "[Abba.]" Abba means Father.

 ⁷ So you aren't slaves any longer. You are God's children. Because you are his children, he gives you what he promised to give his people."

His Deed/The Day: Happy New Year's Day! It's been almost a year since thoughts of this project began. Now it's become a daily routine and a different way of thinking. Trying to do a conscious, angel-inspired deed a day has been exciting — and still, totally against the grain. That has been the biggest wonder of the whole project. Even after 300 days, it is a struggle — often a panic — to wonder what good I can help accomplish before my head hits the pillow.

I have found that the most serendipitous, memorable deeding occurs when I am calm, and contemplative about how God uses us each day. It's a total turning around of thought, though. Instead of waking up thinking about how much I have to do each day, or going to event wondering who I'll know — I have to retrain my brain to think, "Oh, joy...how will God tap me to help today? or "how is God going to work through me for the greater good at this gathering?" That's when it gets exciting and when the deeds are more palpable. Getting to that point, however, requires constant reminding and reassurance. It does not feel natural.

So on this project presses — 400 days is the goal, just a few days short of the 40th birthday. I'm still learning and experiencing, and mostly joyful to be on the journey!

Today's deed was sending Happy New Year greetings to family  and friends...not a biggie, but a feel-gooder!