Unconditional Love 3/16

(By list member Debbie Preuss, February 9, 2005)
Unconditional love is what I've found in Him
He who loves me, despite all my sin
Unconditional love, no matter what I've done
When I come to my Father, through Jesus His Son
My Heavenly Father loves me so
He's promised that He won't let me go
Though I do things that are not right
He stays with me through the darkest night
When I ask Him why He loves me so
Why He helps me in the high and low
My Father says, I am His child
n His eyes I'm whole, I'm not defiled
Unconditional love, He has for me
In Jesus His Son, I am set free
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html

My Comments: I do love this lady’s poems. She says just what I’m thinking. I’m so glad we are free in Jesus because of God’s unconditional love to send Christ to the cross to take our place. I am not perfect by any means, but knowing that He loves and accepts me as His child, because of my faith in Jesus gives me much encouragement and strength for my journey.

Attitude 3/16

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money,
than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

…..Charles Swindoll, American Author and Pastor, by way of Chaplain Notes (ChapnotesMail@aol.com) (http://www.chapnotes.org) and “Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

My Comments: Boy, did this hit home with me! I have reacted so badly to some of the little irritating things in life, instead of counting my blessings. I have found it easier to respond correctly to the big things: miscarriage, death of parent, etc. than to the less demanding obstacles in my life: hurricanes, job changes, new responsibilities... It’s as if I know I MUST trust the Lord with the really big things, but I’m not so sure I can trust Him with the smaller, more daily struggles. I’m learning and growing and hope I’m getting better at trusting.

Too Far 3/13

God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

I went too far, ate the whole piece of cake. It was huge. I was almost full, then I was stuffed to the gills.

I’ve been in phone conversations where I’ve said all I needed to, but just have to have one last word.  And then I’ve gone too far,  could have left well enough alone.

Sometimes a little bell goes off in my brain, “Stop now.”  If I do not heed the warning I can get myself “in a pickle”,  as my grandma used to say.

I guess it’s a case of the major base-sin, rebellion.  Otherwise known as pride:  I’ll just go ahead and do it my own way.

Little thing or big thing, turning it over to God is good.  The Holy Spirit is available and willing to help me out when it comes to discipline and self-control. When I mess up, I try and remember to confess and repent.  God may slap my hand, ever so gently, then He will restore me.  Our God is a gracious, forgiving, merciful, and loving Father.  Even when I’ve gone too far.

That is good news.

…..Sally I. Kennedy (sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net) (http://www.sallyikennedy.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com) Sally is the author of  “Irish Thursdays”, "Words from the Heart”,  and “52 Little Parables from Ireland" .  She lives in south Florida, with her husband Ben.

My Comments: So often I find myself going just too far, especially with my kids. I have made my point, then I say too much. It is so easy to let my pride kick in and make that last statement or action that goes too far.

Training in God's Gym 3/12

(By Dawn Jones) 
[Edited (minor)]
Our life on Earth is a life of seasons, a life of changes. Just as some seasons are eagerly awaited and others are less happily anticipated because they are not as pleasant, so some changes life brings are welcome and others are dreaded because they are difficult, harsh and painful.
The thing that keeps us pressing on in the midst of changes, both good and bad, is the belief that God is in full control of His world and that "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time" (Eccl. 3:11a). No matter what may come our way, we have a promise of beauty!
But only God in His eternal wisdom knows how the transformation will unfold and when it will take place. He does His work as we learn to live in obedience and contentment, trusting Him, believing that He will bring us through every season of sorrow and pain into a beautiful reward.
His Word assures us, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). We can count on this. But what are we to do while the night season remains?
The answer is, ENDURE. "For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:36).
"Endurance" is the ability to keep pressing on without growing weary. It is stamina, forbearance, courage, fortitude, durability and ability to stand.
But Biblical endurance is more than just being the last man to stand. Derived from the Greek word "hupomone," which means cheerful endurance or hopeful waiting, biblical endurance speaks to the attitude with which we wait as much as it does to the act of waiting itself. It is more than just making it across the finish line; it is the outlook we maintain while we run the race.
Cheerful endurance is a powerful attitude that says, "God not only CAN change my circumstances; He WILL!" It is a mind-set that is filled with compelling confidence, trust, expectation, optimism and assurance in Christ. Hopeful waiting and cheerful endurance will not allow us to give up our dreams or turn loose of our hope; instead they call us to a deeper level of faith.
So how do we gain such endurance? The answer is not easy to accept. The Bible clearly says that the trying and testing of our faith produces endurance (see James 1:3).
Testing is the weight of choice that God uses to develop our spiritual muscles and internal stamina. When we face a trial that threatens our faith; when we find ourselves in circumstances that are incompatible with what we believe, we are in God's gym. It is then that we have the opportunity to build our endurance.
The resistance we feel can serve us in that moment. If we begin to lift the weight up off ourselves with prayer, singing, meditation and obedient responses, we will bench-press our way into cheerful endurance. The joy that comes from passing a test, knowing that we have honored God in our lives, is incomparable.
But what if we do not respond properly to God's "no pain, no gain" training program? What happens to our endurance if these weights remain upon us? The result of that condition is obvious. Trying to run a race while encumbered with weights would leave us exhausted, depressed and drained. Yet many of us do exactly that and then are perplexed at why our progress is so slow.
Instead, we must rise up in faith, as the apostle Paul admonishes us to do: "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb.12:1).
The scripture says that WE are to throw off the weights. We must lay them down; we must rid ourselves of them because they are counterproductive to our endurance.
We are not supposed to tolerate the weight of fear, failure, bitterness or unforgiveness, or the heaviness of Satan's lies. We must press against these weights, lift them off and grow in cheerful endurance!
Is God calling you to joyful endurance? Is He calling you to a new level of faith? Do you need a fresh, dynamic, flourishing and hopeful expectation in God? Have you lost your hope that anything beautiful can come out of your life, your circumstances, your relationships, or your dreams?
Then get to God's gym. There IS hope for a better tomorrow because you have a promise of beauty! Throw off the old weights and start running with endurance.
You'll be amazed at the results!
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html

My Comments: This came the morning after a scheduled cardiac procedure was cancelled indefinitely less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to occur. Did I need patience endurance then? You bet! I struggled for a number of hours through a day of discomfort and exhaustion trying to make sense of the cancellation. I had begun to see good explanations for why I had to have the procedure and what outcomes may be a result of the experience. Having the procedure cancelled due to a equipment failure did not fit with my carefully laid plans! I knew that God is faithful and this detour hadn’t surprised Him, but somehow that didn’t exactly help. Reading this in the afternoon, I submitted again all aspects of my life to the Lord. He has every right and my permission to rearrange my life at any time, in any way, in order to fulfill its influence, for His glory. Do I really believe that? Yes, even though it is still hard, I need to have a joyful endurance of the events that come into my life.

Divine Inspiration 3/10

"...but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40: 29-31

“The Wind Beneath My Wings”, written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar and sung by many different recording artists, never fails to leave me with chill bumps when I hear it. This song has been used to honor many different kinds of relationships from lovers, husbands and wives, daughters and mothers--the list goes on. Whatever the occasion, whether Valentine's Day or any time the song is used to honor someone, it becomes one of life's greatest moments to know one person has inspired another's life to that extent.

This song is secular but it points out an important truth. We all need inspiration whether we freely admit it or not. It is always great when there is someone in our lives we can call the wind beneath our wings. However, there is someone we all have access to that is our inspiration if we only seek Him.

As Moses promised the Israelites before Joshua was going to lead them into the Promised Land, the Lord is always with us: "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee; he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not; neither be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

The dictionary defines inspiration as: "Divine guidance or influence exerted directly upon the mind and soul of man." Those who choose to live by inspiration find that it changes life from a chore or drudgery into joyful opportunities. Those who have inspiration in their lives are able to inspire others.

Jesus Christ the Lord as presented in the Bible is our greatest source of inspiration. He can use people, things, circumstances and experiences to inspire us, His people, along the way. If we are truthful, we must confess there are times in our lives when disappointments and setbacks come and we feel like giving up.

During these times, we need inspiration. There may not always be someone in our lives to offer this inspiration, but we can always turn to Christ, the Author of inspiration. He will inspire us by the Truth of His Word. He uses His written Word to inspire our weary hearts and give us an upward surge that feels like the wind beneath us lifting us up.

Let's ask the Lord to touch our minds and hearts and give us that upward surge of inspiration that changes the direction of our limp and sagging lives.

…..Ivie Bozeman (ivie@rose.net) by way of Eternal Ink (eternal_ink@associate.com) (meginrose@charter.net) and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

My Comments: I find that I struggle a lot getting caught up in the struggles that come with disappointment and setbacks. This past week was like that for several days, until I got my eyes of my circumstances and back on the knowledge that I could trust the Lord to always do best for my life.

Honk If Something Falls Off 3/7

(by Kerry S. Doyal - Grace Evangelical Free Church, www.getgraced.org) 
[Edited]
It may have been just a bumper sticker. It may have adorned no better than an old worn and dented blue pickup truck. But, it sure stirred my thinking. Hopefully it can do the same for yours.
Conjure up the image of that truck as you thoughtfully read a few times its simple yet simply profound traveling message of wisdom.
"Honk if something falls off."
Did you see it? Do you see it? Yes, I know it was meant in a humorous vein, but it presented me (a preacher's curse / blessing) with some healthy life lessons and holy reminders. Allow me to lay them out here.
First, it is no small matter to know and admit you are not perfect. Whether your life is like that humble truck, or be it a spotless, shiny Lexus (pick your favorite fancy vehicle), none of us are perfect. The sooner we admit that, the better off we all are.
That truck owner knew he had a well worn means of transportation. One susceptible to falling apart without notice. He did not need us to tell him he was not the picture of perfection. He knew it and wanted us to know he knew it. Wait a minute - you say - if he knew he might lose a part, he should not be on the road. Maybe so. But what guarantee do you have that you will never lose a piece in your travels?
Let me be clear: living an "I'm not perfect, so get over it" life is not what we are advocating here. Admitting that your imperfections show up on occasion is another matter.
Second, this driver - God bless his sweet soul - assumes that people will be so kind as to inform him if he drops a chunk of truck on his journeys: a muffler, bumper, a hubcap, the transmission. With wear and age, the old truck may just accidentally litter the road. This is not something he wants, but knows may happen.
Yet, he is an optimist. His expectation is that - brace yourself for some serious analogy abuse - as he travels down the road of life, his fellow travelers are on the same road he is on. If they see him lose something, they will let him know with a friendly, informative honk and maybe even a wave. Much like they would want him to do for them.
Maybe this dear old driver doesn't get off the farm much. Most honking is not friendly. It may be informative, but what is being conveyed is not usually helpful information. Usually it is angry, critical, judging, shaming.
Also, the waves that most often accompany a horn blast are often not full-fingered hand encounters - if you catch my drift. Indeed, if something of yours falls off in my lane of life, I'm going to let you hear about it alright. But so much for pity, compassion and understanding. Try condemnation, vilification and humiliation.
The way we respond to people's imperfections, one would think their old trucky lives meant to drop pieces in our path, at us no less. "Accident? No way! That was personal. Don't try to tell me your humanity is showing. I know better."
Oh for the assumption that if my imperfections crop up at an inconvenient time to you and unbeknownst to me, you will let me know, all the while assuming it was nothing personal. Please let me know, not every one else except me.
Such a sweet and humble request: "Honk if something falls off." It speaks of community, a shared commitment to accept and watch after one another, to cover for one another.
If one follows me long enough they will indeed see something (s) fall off. It is just going to happen. Do I want it? No. Can I prevent it. Sometimes, yes, but not all the time. Will it happen at a time and in a way that is inconvenient? Sadly, it probably will, possibly causing pain. Does it mean I wanted it to happen? God forbid!
But if - I mean when - it does happen, may I ask a simple favor? One which I will try to return the best I can. Can we count on each other to honk if something falls off?
Romans 15:7 "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
Ephesians 4:29-32 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: I was convicted that so often others can’t trust me to accept them for who they are and to give them the encouragement and help that God has called me to give. I need this in others, too. To let me know when I’m not all that I need to be. In a kind, humble way to let me know that I’ve lost some of Christ’s image in my life.

Slow Down! - Hope for the Heart 3/4

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28;
 
If you are tired of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as tired of it as you are. 
 
Walking with Jesus shouldn't be boring or draining, it should be energizing!  Are you feeling burned out?  Jesus said, if you are tired from being overburdened, (with things that I did not give you) come to me and I will cause you to rest.
 
Nobody was busier than Jesus, yet He was never in a hurry.  He had a lot more to do than you or me, yet He never seemed to do it in a way that severed the life-giving connection between Him and the Father, or interfered with His ability to give love when love was required.  He regularly withdrew from activity to the place of solitude and prayer.  And when His disciples returned, flushed with success, their adrenalin pumping from a busy time of ministry, He told them "Come ye yourselves apart... and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). 
 
Mark explains that  "there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."  (Mark 6:31)  Sound familiar? Constant hurry is the mark of an un-prioritized life.  It is a sign that second and third things have become first things.  We want microwave maturity.  We try to exchange wisdom for information and depth for breadth - and it does not work.  Depth comes slowly.  Following Jesus cannot be done at a sprint; you cannot go faster than the One who is leading. 
 
Today, slow down.  Do not just work for God - spend time with Him.
 
In His grip,
Steve Schertzinger
New Hope Community Church
www.nhccm.org

My Comments: Well, this certainly is convicting!! I know that I hurry too much and allow the wrong things to have a priority in my life. I must allow the Lord to set my priorities and follow Him. I need to be sure I set aside time for Him in my life. Wonderful truths...

Get Lost! 3/4

There must be a sign hanging above my head that reads, "I give advice!" No matter where I am I get into conversations with people I don't even know.

I'm not complaining. I'm grateful.

Just yesterday a man turned to me and said, "I don't know what to do with my time."

"Get lost!" I told him.

"Well, that's rude," he said. "I didn't mean to bother you."

"No, I really mean the answer to your question is to get lost," I explained.

"My wife tells me that all the time, but I think she really means she wants me to get lost, don't come back!" he said laughing.

"I understand completely, my friend. Actually what I meant was based on one of my favorite quotes, "The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others." Gandhi said that. Back in the 60's it seemed we were all trying to find ourselves. In fact, I believe many people my age are still in search of who they are or were supposed to be," I said.

"It's just that I suddenly have this free time called retirement and I'm feeling useless. I've discovered after all this time that I was my career. It's funny, I know people a little older than I who retired and went from their career to their disease," he said.

"Their disease?" I asked.

"Yes, once they let go of something greater than themselves, a purpose, a goal in life, they surrendered to their ailment. They owned their disease," he said.

Then shaking his head in disbelief, he said. "Before they became ill you could asked them about life and they'd talk about work, their family, places they've been. Now when you ask them all they can relate to is their illness.

They've lost their identity."

He lowered his head and said. "I don't want to give into life."

"So get lost! Get lost in someone else's life who needs what you have to offer. There are so many people out there who need you," I told him.

I continued, "Life has so much to offer us. It also has a time when some of what we loved about life is taken away. Even in its simplest form a sunset has to end, a ride on the carousel comes to a halt, the last lick of the ice cream cone leaves us wanting more. It is then we give up all that we dreamed about because we see ourselves on that ride, slowly coming to a halt. My friend, you are at the point in life where you need get off one ride and onto another," I said.

"Get lost, you say?" he said smiling.

"Yes, my friend. Remember the park never closes. The rides just change."

Just then a woman, I assume to be his wife, approached him.

"So what do you want to do today, Joe?"

"Get lost!" he said.

"What?"

"Honey, let me explain."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear this one," she said.

…..copyright 2007 Bob Perks "I believe in you!" (2believe@comcast.net) (http://www.BobPerks.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)


My Comments: I find that getting involved in the lives of others: students, colleagues, my children, others in need, really helps me to get the right focus. People need us... God wants us to be involved in the lives of others. We have a ministry to do so. We need to get busy getting lost. Still we need to bear in mind the ideas of my previous entry and keep our priorities right so we don’t get overworked and distressed by the work that we do.

Doubting Thomas 3/3

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
John 14:5
 
        Do you ever struggle with doubts in your faith?   Doubts that you really asked Jesus to cleanse you from your sins?  Doubts that when you leave this earthly realm, you’ll spend eternity in Heaven with Him?   Even after having walked with Him for a long time?   I have.  
        After their initial call, very little is said about most of the apostles in Scripture.   Peter, of course, seemed to always suffer from foot and mouth disease.   John, we know as the disciple, “whom Jesus loved,”.   He was secure in his relationship with his Lord.  
        On the other end of the spectrum, is Thomas.  Thomas struggled with his faith in the Lord.  Thomas struggled with his doubts. Thomas is a source of encouragement to me. 
        Most of what we know about Thomas is found after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.   However, there are a couple other passages.  The one I have quoted and one in John 11.  In the passage of John 11, Jesus learns of the death of His friend Lazarus, delays his going to him for two days then says, I’m going to Lazarus so that I can show you more of Myself (that’s a paraphrase, of course, of verse 15). 
        Thomas’ response to that is… Let us also go that we may die with him. I can almost hear him say, “we’re going to die anyway….might as well be with the Master…you know we’re going to die as soon as we step foot in Judea…”    You can almost hear the huge sigh of resignation Thomas emits before that statement, can’t you?   Jesus’ life had been threatened by the Jewish leaders and His disciples felt it would not be safe for Him to travel in Judea.  Nevertheless, Jesus didn’t allow danger to keep him from the side of His friends during this time.  His delay was so that God could show His disciples (and others) more of Himself… more of Who He really was.     Thomas had grave doubts about going into danger… even with the Master.  
        The next time, we see Thomas is in the passage I’ve quoted.   Jesus knows His time is near to die and so He spends the last precious week of His life fleshing out the teaching and instructions He’d given them during the three years they had walked in ministry with Him.     These 12 men had been with Jesus almost constantly during His 3 years of ministry, humanly speaking we would think they’d have “gotten it” by now.    They hadn’t, and Thomas becomes the spokesperson for the rest of the group.   He verbalized what some of the others were thinking but weren’t brave enough to voice to the Master.  
        Have you ever been there?   You’ve walked with the Lord for a long time, but you wonder…. Am I walking the right way?   How will God work in my present situation?   I know He can because I’ve seen Him work in the past, but… will He work in what my present situation is now?  
        Can you hear the insecurity, the fear in Thomas’ voice?   Jesus is preparing His 12 for His death; for his departure from His time on earth.   He promises to prepare a place for them AND He promises to come back to get them.   However, the disciples were still thinking on the earthly plane.   They were thinking that Jesus was going somewhere else on earth to get away from the persecution of the Jewish leaders (and that He was going to leave them here to fend for themselves against those same Jewish leaders).   They did not understand yet that Jesus would be crucified; .that that was the purpose in His coming this time.    Though Jesus had been telling them and preparing them for one of the most stressful events in their lives, they still didn’t understand.   They still believed He was here to set up an earthly kingdom… not a heavenly one.  
        So when Jesus says, He’s leaving, these men wonder… where are You going?   How will we know how to get there if You’re not here to show us the way?   Jesus then gently reminds Thomas, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”  Then Philip joins Thomas’s querying of the Lord.  “Lord, if you’ll just show us…”   Jesus says, “I already have shown you.  You’ve seen Me…. I AM the Way.” 
        The next time, we hear from Thomas is after the resurrection in John 20: 24-29.    Jesus has been crucified.    The disciples had been feeling like all their dreams and hopes of being a part of God’s kingdom were dashed to smithereens.   In a way, it had been… for Jesus had not come to set up His earthly kingdom yet.   There were others of another fold who needed to be told the Way.  (John 10:16). 
        Thomas, of all the disciples, perhaps felt and showed his devastation at Jesus’ death more than any of the others.   It is from this Scripture that he gets the name “Doubting Thomas”.    When Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after His resurrection, Thomas was not present.   Hmmm…  Ever wonder where Thomas was that he wasn’t with the other disciples?   Perhaps he was off bemoaning Jesus’ death as well as the death of all his dreams for the future.  So that when he finally did meet up with the other disciples and they told him of Jesus’ appearance to them, he refused to believe it was Jesus.     He wanted concrete evidence that Jesus had risen again.   He wanted to “feel” the nail prints in Jesus’ hands.   
        So, Jesus comes gently into their midst again and says, “Thomas, reach here …. Touch Me…. Don’t be faithless”   Though this was a gentle rebuke to Thomas, it is also evidence that God wants us to be sure and secure of our belief in Him.   He is not afraid of our doubts in Him.   He is not threatened by our doubts.   Doubts are only a platform for God to build our faith in Him.         Thomas’ response to Jesus was one of awe, reverence and worship, “My Lord and my God”.               .  
        Let me ask you once again, are you struggling with your faith in Christ?  Have circumstances arisen that make you wonder if He’s real?   Or perhaps you’ve just fallen for some myth?   Beloved, He is real.   He wants you to “reach here … touch Me…. And be …. Believing!”.  There’s more to this… but I’ll leave it….
 
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10

My Comments: This really has spoken to me, because I have struggled often with doubting the Lord. It isn’t that I don’t believe He is God, all-powerful, all-knowing, unchanging and all of His other characteristics. It is that I don’t stay convinced that He cares about me, that what He is doing in my life if for my good. I know He is doing “right” in my life, but I’m not really sure that it is best. Do you hear the doubting. I struggle with wanting my way so often, instead of God’s way. Solving problems in my way and time, instead of waiting for the Lord. It is so hard to wait... is it REALLY necessary? Of course, it is and it is building patience and self-control in my life as I learn to wait and trust Him with every aspect of my life.

Christianity is not a Destination; it is a Journey 3/1

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life
a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

As Christians our responsibility is to be Christ like. Jesus is not only our redeemer but He is a living example as to how we should live our life. When the world observes our actions and deeds, they should see a glimpse of Jesus.

Christ was crucified, buried and arose from the grave, then ascended into Heaven. He paved the way for our eventual entrance into Heaven. Our responsibility is to believe upon Jesus, seek forgiveness, desire a personal relationship with Him, then profess our faith and strive to be Christ-like.

Being a Christian is more than an arrival at our final destination. Christianity should be a wonderful, enjoyable journey, not only of redemption but of growth, witnessing and service.

In His life and death Jesus showed love with His deeds of teaching, healing compassion and sacrifice. He was concerned for and loved mankind. Jesus was not concerned with what he had to wear, eat or a home to live. He did though provide for the hungry, and was concerned for people's needs.

Jesus walked among sinners, but loved them without loving their sin. He was kind to them even when they persecuted Him.

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples without expecting them to do the same for Him.

Christ labored with His hands and His heart as He lived, worked and traveled for the short time He lived upon this earth. He healed, loved, cared for and was concerned about people's physical as well as their spiritual well being.

God gave His Son to a sin-filled world, and even allowed the world to take His life, in order that man could know a love like no other love. A love that could not only forgive sin, but forget we even committed them. God also sent Jesus as an example to teach us how we should love, forgive, provide, witness and serve others.

The Bible shows us how Jesus lived, His goodness, and mercy, His love and compassion. It gives us directions and instructions as to how we should live.

We Christians have a responsibility above and beyond seeking forgiveness for our sins. We are to walk the walk, and talk the talk. We are to show the world that we desire to mimic the goodness of Christ. We are not only to love others, but to show that love.

When people observe you, do they see the hands, feet and heart of Jesus? When you reveal what your heart contains, do they see the kind of love Jesus had for people? When they hear you speak, do they hear Jesus talking? When people see what you are doing and the places you are going, do they see the works and behavior of Jesus? Are you helping and serving others as Jesus did?

Yes, Christianity is not a destination it is a journey with responsibilities. We as Christians should never forget that we may be the only Bible some people read.

…..Betty King (baking2@charter.net) (www.bettyking.net) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com) Betty King has lived with MS for over forty years; she is a newspaper columnist, and author of: It Takes Two Mountains to Make a Valley, But-It's in the Valleys I Grew, The Fragrance of Life, and Safe and Secure in the Palm of His Hand; they are available at local book stores, on line, or contact Betty.

My Comments: I so need to live my life looking at the responsibilities I have to those around me. I need to minister to the needs of my husband and children, to the local church members, and to the wider world around me. I don’t know whose life I will touch by the ministry God gives to me. I have tried to be more in tune to this and look for ministry opportunities in the past few months. It is difficult at times to put my own agenda for the day aside and do those things that meet the needs of others. But what a blessing it has been to my heart when I have done so.