Matthew – watercress words by Dr Aletha

What do these verses mean to you?

Using this guide from The Upper Room, try praying these Scriptures- use one of these versions, all of them, or others that you prefer.

“When we Pray the Scriptures, we begin by reading a few verses of the Bible. We read unhurriedly so that we can listen for the message God has for us there. ” Continue reading at

Praying the Scriptures

man with hands folded in prayer — photo from Lightstock .com, stock photos and graphics(affiliate)

“One of the passages that never failed to comfort me when I was feeling especially down was the Beatitudes, the list of blessings Jesus proclaimed to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.”

Please continuing reading at my related post

Thanks for joining me to read and explore these words of faith, hope, and love and for helping me share the HEART of health.

Matthew 6:1-4, TLB-Giving to the Needy

“Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven

When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as hypocrites do- to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you in all earnestness, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly—don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing.

And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.”

if you do one good deed your reward is to do another and harder and better one. C.S. LEWIS, — graphic from stock photo site Lightstock.com, an affiliate site

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C.S. Lewis, author

Author of the popular The Chronicles of Narnia fiction book/movie series,

C.S. Lewis was a writer, teacher, and lay theologian.

His books on Christian belief are read and quoted widely, years after his death.

Helping in Secret

Leslie Koh, writer/editor for Our Daily Bread reflected on this passage in a devotional from November 26, 2017.

He wrote about Denise, who mentored a hurting young woman in her church. She met with her frequently, counselling and praying.

But when a church staff member was assigned to work with the young woman, Denise felt overlooked and unappreciated.

Leslie reminded us that when we feel unappreciated (and all of us do at times) God recognizes what we do even when no one else does.

I think we might ask ourselves- What is my motive in helping others?

To serve myself by receiving praise and recognition from other people?
To serve God, to receive His reward?
To serve others, obeying God’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 19:19?

Helping the distressed

Recently Leslie reflected on the Christian response to the world wide refugee crisis. In this piece for The Christian Post, he encourages us to

not mistreat foreigners and migrants-embrace them.

“Some time back, people from abroad who work in my country started gathering on the church property for a picnic every Sunday.

This evoked a range of responses from fellow churchgoers. Some fretted about the mess the visitors would leave behind. But others saw this as a divine opportunity to extend hospitality to a wonderful group of strangers—without even leaving the church grounds! “(excerpt)

I hope we all find “divine opportunities” to extend hospitality and help to friends and strangers.