Compassion for Others!

Isaiah 49:13 (New International Version)

13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Websters define "Compassion" as a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. I define it as an overwhelming emotion that hurts my heart. Feelings of such inner turmoil that sends me to my knees or on my face before God. Crying out to Him for someone that is going through the fire. This past week, two instances of people that we know and love are facing the biggest storms of their lives. Winds that have blown them over and it is our job to pray for them and lift them up before the Lord. This scripture tells us that the Lord comforts His people and has compassion on the ones that are hurting! What a wonderful promise! No matter what we can say or do to help someone, it is not possible for us to comfort as our Lord does. He is the only One who can truly minister to them. I struggle to find even the right words to describe how my feelings are, the empathy that I feel or the inability to really help them. Oh yes, we can say comforting words and be there for them, but Jesus is the answer to their problems. As we begin this week, I am sure we all know someone that is experiencing a life altering event in their life where they just need someone to hold them up in prayer. Lets be there for them, because I am also sure our time is coming. It is such a blessing to know someone is praying. God Bless your week

Devotion to Church!

Exodus 20:8 (New International Version)

8. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Remember the Sabbath day, Sunday, the day when we observe our devotion and love for our Lord and Savior. A day when we concentrate on the things of God. A day for reflection! I wonder how many people truly reverence this special day? Most of the time it is a busy day, to many things going on and folks are just to tired. I remember with my own children, I was absolutely worn out by the time church was over with on Sunday night. But, I would not change one thing about it. It was more important than anything to keep them in church, I figured one day I would have all the rest I needed, (which is now). There is always a sacrifice to make when you do the "right" thing, when you are following the will of God for your family. I look back now and I am so thankful for making that decision, no matter how tired anyone was, we went to church. I would just like to encourage you to be in the house of God, time goes by so fast and it is so much easier to live with yourself when you know you was obedient. Have a blessed day at church with your family and enjoy every minute of it.

Growing Older!

Psalm 39:4,5 (New International Version)



4. "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. 5. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah.



Life is surely short and small in the eyes of God. It is as if we are young and then all of a sudden, we are old. A few months before my dad turned 83, he made this statement "you know, when I look in that mirror I ask, Who is that old man? I don't feel old in my heart." I think this may be the way we all will be. Time goes by so fast, and then life changes so fast to. This very thing has happened to someone very dear to our family this week. I guess there had been signs that something was wrong for quite awhile, but things progressed to the point of her safety. It is very sad and heartbreaking to see the past fade away and the changes that will affect everyone in the family. My prayer is first of all to be thankful for her life, then to pray that the family will be guided by wisdom. That the Lord would show them all the options available and lead them in the direction they should go. Please pray with me that the Holy Spirit will reveal to them the love and mercy of God.

Stress!

John 14:1 (New International Version)

(Jesus Comforts His Disciples) 1."Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God trust also in me.


Stress is a normal part of life and can be positive when it helps us to be creative and productive, but it can also be negative. This is when a person has pressures without relief and relaxation between the issues we face in life. Everyone has problems that has to be dealt with. We can't control what happens in our life, but we can control how we respond to it. Life is hard and bad things do happen to good people. So how do we handle these storms when they come? First of all, how our relationship is with the Lord will determine the course. Second, we must trust God. There is no other place to turn , there is no one that can help us except Him. Whatever is causing you stress, I am praying that God will give you strength and guide you. Look to Him, and stay focused. He will not leave you, His right hand will uphold you.

God is With You!

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)

17. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Gods Word is filled with encouragement for us. His love is shown from Genesis to Revelation. Words that give us hope, and promises that are for us if we follow His will. In the times we live in, there is no other foundation to base hope on except Jesus. We must believe His Word if we are to live a victorious life. In this scripture we are told He is not only with us, He delights in us, His love gives us peace, and the part that is amazing to me is that He rejoices with singing over us. Yes that is right, singing! I just never thought about God singing! But then only because of His children would He have a reason to sing. Please be encouraged as to how much God really loves you, hide this into the deepest part of your heart and be encouraged.

Gifts!

1 Peter 4:10 (New International Version)

10. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

I love giving gifts to someone, actually more than receiving. It is such a blessing to see the surprise on their face and the joy it brings to them. It is showing someone you care when you take the time to do something special for them. God is this way with us, He has given us gifts to use for His glory. Gifts that will bless and minister to others. How wonderful our God truly is, He has thought of everything possible. Of course the greatest gift of all is His Son that was sacrificed for us. This scripture tells to use the gifts that He has given to us. This shows others the Love and Mercy of God. What are your gifts? What is it that you need to be doing for the Kingdom of God? Ask the Lord to show you and then use them for His Glory!

John 3:16

John 3:16-18 (The Message)

16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

C. H. Spurgeon told a story of a man who preached 6 weeks on John 3:16. Thousands of people were saved and was said to have been one of the greatest revivals in America. Now, when I first heard about this, I was amazed! How in the world could anyone preach 6 weeks on one scripture. Well, I did a little research and that one verse speaks volumes. As I began just to read (especially this version) I realized that yes, it could be preached and taught on over and over. As you read the scripture, you begin to see what God did for us and why. Then you read how much He really loves you and me. An unfailing love that lasts forever. If it has been awhile since you have read John 3:16, maybe a refresher would be good, and in different translations to. Enjoy Gods Word, it is life and peace for you.