It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the ...€¦ · for needy children in the...
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It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. — Proverbs 14:21 58 Ways to Serve Common wisdom says it takes at least 21 days to form a habit. Other studies suggest it’s more like an average of 66 days. Whatever the truth may be, the Isaiah 58 “True Fast” Challenge offers you 58 days — and 58 ways — to cultivate the habit of service and kindness. Whether you do this on your own, with a small group, or as a congregation, use the following guide to extend kindness, serve others, and practice the principles of God’s “True Fast” for the next 58 days. You will be amazed at the difference one small act of kindness can make in the lives of others — and in your own life as well. 1. Reach out to area military families. Support our troops by supporting families who have a member deployed. e families are often forgotten. ank them for their sacrifices. Offer to help them around the house. Babysit. Let them know you recognize their sacrifice and ask how you can help. 2. Car washing extravaganza! Wash 58 cars of people in the community. 3. Sponsor an ice-cream social at a local senior home or center. 4. Recognize the teachers in the community during your church service. Invite the congregation to send a note or email to a special teacher in their lives or their children’s lives. 5. During your church service, take time to recognize policemen, firemen, soldiers, and public officials in the community for their sacrifices. Invite the congregation to take the time to thank a public servant during the week. 6. Sponsor a school supply/backpack drive for needy children in the community. 7. During the 58-day fast, collect small change on a daily basis and donate the final amount at the end of the fast. 8. Offer to deliver medicine, food, or other necessities to area shut-ins. 9. Bake goods for the local senior’s home or center. 10. Frequent a child’s lemonade stand. 11. During the hot days of summer, hand out cold Gatorade or water to your mail carrier, garbage men, or others working outside. 12. Cook an extra portion of dinner (or dessert) and share with someone who needs it. 13. Take flowers to the nursing station at a hospital — for the nurses. 14. Say “thank you” to someone who has made a difference in your life. 15. Cut out an article and send it to someone. “I thought about you when I saw this…” or “this reminds me of…” Or send a link to an article via email with the same message. ©2017. International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. ifcj.org Be sure to share your church or group’s participation on social media with other Isaiah 58 churches, using the hash tag #Isaiah58Fast. A True Fast
Transcript of It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the ...€¦ · for needy children in the...
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. — Proverbs 14:21
58 Ways to Serve
Common wisdom says it takes at least 21 days to form a habit. Other studies suggest it’s more like an average of 66 days. Whatever the truth may be, the Isaiah 58 “True Fast” Challenge offers you 58 days — and 58 ways — to cultivate the habit of service and kindness.Whether you do this on your own, with a small group, or as a congregation, use the following guide to extend kindness, serve others, and practice the principles of God’s “True Fast” for the next 58 days. You will be amazed at the difference one small act of kindness can make in the lives of others — and in your own life as well.
1. �Reach out to area military families. Support our troops by supporting families who have a member deployed. The families are often forgotten. Thank them for their sacrifices. Offer to help them around the house. Babysit. Let them know you recognize their sacrifice and ask how you can help.
2. �Car washing extravaganza! Wash 58 cars of people in the community.
3. �Sponsor an ice-cream social at a local senior home or center.
4. �Recognize the teachers in the community during your church service. Invite the congregation to send a note or email to a special teacher in their lives or their children’s lives.
5. �During your church service, take time to recognize policemen, firemen, soldiers, and public officials in the community for their sacrifices. Invite the congregation to take the time to thank a public servant during the week.
6. �Sponsor a school supply/backpack drive for needy children in the community.
7. During the 58-day fast, collect small change on a daily basis and donate the final amount at the end of the fast.
8. �Offer to deliver medicine, food, or other necessities to area shut-ins.
9. �Bake goods for the local senior’s home or center.
10. Frequent a child’s lemonade stand.
11. �During the hot days of summer, hand out cold Gatorade or water to your mail carrier, garbage men, or others working outside.
12. �Cook an extra portion of dinner (or dessert) and share with someone who needs it.
13. �Take flowers to the nursing station at a hospital — for the nurses.
14. �Say “thank you” to someone who has made a difference in your life.
15. �Cut out an article and send it to someone. “I thought about you when I saw this…” or “this reminds me of…” Or send a link to an article via email with the same message.
©2017. International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. ifcj.orgBe sure to share your church or group’s participation on social media with other Isaiah 58 churches, using the hash tag #Isaiah58Fast.
A True Fast
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. — Proverbs 14:21
58 Ways to Serve
16. �Send a letter just to “let you know how much I care about you.”
17. Take a cool photo of someone you love and send it to them.
18. Even easier and quicker than sending letters is texting. Text someone just to tell them something you appreciate about them.
19. When you get great service at a store or restaurant, thank the person who helped you. Then, tell a manager. Go to the corporate website and submit an email. Write a positive online review of a business you like. It makes a difference.
20. �Everyone is important. Learn the names of your office security guard, the person at the front desk, and other people you see every day. Greet them by name. Say “hello” to strangers and smile. These acts of kindness are so easy, and they almost always make people smile.
21. �Give someone the gift of forgiveness.
22. �Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
23. �Pick up the tab for someone at a restaurant, or buy the person’s coffee who is behind you at your favorite coffee shop.
24. �Post positive notes at your colleagues’ work station, or around the house for your family.
25. �If you’re upset, take a deep breath and count to 10 (or perhaps 15) before you say anything. Ask yourself if what you’re going to say will be helpful. Pausing will reduce the likelihood you’ll say something you’d regret. Remind yourself that a positive mindset is a choice you can make.
26. Let another car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave, or stop to let a pedestrian cross the street.
27. Hold the elevator for someone and greet them when they get on.
����� 28. Stop and say hello
to the next homeless person you see. Buy that person something to eat or drink. Carry around a care package of food or toiletries that you can give to a homeless person.
29. �Reach out or follow up with someone you know who has been having a difficult time.
30. �Bring in food or snacks for your office mates.
31. �Leave a big tip to someone who has given you great service.
32. �Run errands for an elderly neighbor.
33. �If you see someone who looks lost and might need help with directions, approach them and ask how you can be of assistance.
©2017. International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. ifcj.orgBe sure to share your church or group’s participation on social media with other Isaiah 58 churches, using the hash tag #Isaiah58Fast.
A True Fast
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. — Proverbs 14:21
58 Ways to Serve
34. �If you print an Internet coupon before going to a store, print a few extras to give to another customer.
35. �Teach someone younger than you how to do something really cool.
36. �When people are gossiping about someone, be the person to chime in with something positive about that person.
37. Help a single parent in the community by offering to babysit or take their children on an outing.
38. If you are musically gifted, volunteer to put on a mini-concert at a senior care facility.
39. Take five minutes to send postcards to sick children who are fighting serious illnesses and want to receive mail.
40. �Compliment someone every day for 58 days straight!
41. �When you’re on a crowded train or bus, offer your seat to an elderly, disabled, or pregnant person, or someone who just looks tired.
42. �Next time you’re in line at the store, say hello to the person standing next to you.
43. �Put a coin in an expired meter.
44. �Bring someone a cup of coffee.
45. �Put your shopping cart back in the cart rack at the grocery store. Better yet, go and retrieve a grocery cart that someone else has left in the parking lot to the cart rack.
46. �Pass along a great book after you’ve finished reading it.
47. Volunteer to keep someone’s pet while they are vacationing.
48. Be quick to say “I’m sorry.”
49. Offer change when the person in front of you at the register comes up short.
50. �Clean out your closets and donate any gently used clothing to the local Goodwill or other group.
51. �Thank your pastor for the job he/she is doing.
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52. �Write a note to the boss of someone who helps you, and explain how great a job that person is doing.
53. �Befriend a parent with small children on a plane.
54. �Put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a change.
55. �Share an umbrella with someone.
56. �What is it that you are really good at doing? Share that gift or talent with another person today.
57. Help someone who is unemployed look for a job by helping with their resume or sending along some possible job opportunities from the Internet.
58. Help someone fix a flat tire.
A True Fast
©2017. International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. ifcj.orgBe sure to share your church or group’s participation on social media with other Isaiah 58 churches, using the hash tag #Isaiah58Fast.
