Showing Love

Luke 6:31-36 (NIV)

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

A few years ago, a six-year-old boy from Oregon suffered burns over 85% of his body. His condition was so severe that several doctors gave up and one hospital would not admit him because they thought he would die anyway.

His life was saved, however, by eight courageous and committed people -- his parents, three nurses and three doctors. The nurses emerged as the true heroines in this real-life drama. After other nurses had quit, these women took eight-hour shifts with the boy, seeing him through skin grafts, operations, crucial periods in which death almost gained victory, and dull, dragging days of rehabilitation. The boy grew to dislike them, as he innocently thought they caused his intense pain.

His room was like a dungeon. It measured 12 feet by 12 feet. The door was tightly shut, shades were drawn, heat blazed from a gooseneck lamp shining as a substitute for blankets. The humidity was so high the walls dripped with moisture, and dank air smelled of burned flesh and chlorine-soaked dressings.

The nurses stayed with him, dressed in caps, gowns, masks and gloves as if they were assisting an operation. Within an hour they would be soaked with perspiration. For 14 desperately long months these dedicated three gave their all to the ailing boy. Then, one day, he finally climbed from his bed and walked.

It was a great day! The nurses were rewarded for their tireless effort. The lives of all three were so deepened and their sense of satisfaction so great after fighting off the temptation to quit for 14 months, that each said they'd put forth the effort again.

What caused them to feel so satisfied with their work? One might say it was because they found a way to truly serve someone in need. And in so doing, they accomplished something significant. Like American educator Booker T. Washington said, "Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."

Someone observed, "It's easy to make a buck...it's a lot tougher to make a difference." But it's the way to be happy.

Are you willing to invest in the life of another?  The greatest love we can show is loving somebody else and helping them when they can’t help themselves. Jesus did that for each of us when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. Let’s share that love today.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would share your love today in all that we do. Bring someone to us today that we can help through Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

St. Patrick's Day and the Christian

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

While St. Patrick's Day is now associated mostly with "all things Irish," it is actually a celebrated by Christian people around the world. Most people think of St. Patrick's Day as celebrating in green and gold, wearing shamrocks, and eating corned beef and cabbage. Yet, for Christians there is a deeper meaning to St. Patrick's Day that Christian can learn about and practice.

Why March 17th?

There are several theories as to why St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th each year, but most people believe that it is because St. Patrick died on March 17th in AD 461. As the Irish emigrated from Ireland, they took their holiday and celebrations with them, allowing everyone to partake in the celebration of Ireland's patron saint.

How is St. Patrick's Day Commemorated?

While many people know about wearing green and shamrocks, there are other spiritual celebrations that take place on St. Patrick's Day. In Ireland virtually all businesses close on that day. Special masses take place in churches around the world, and Christians partake in prayers for missionaries around the world. Often these services precede exuberant celebrations.

In cities around the world with large Irish populations the post-mass celebrations include parades, Irish music and songs, and Irish food and drink. Some cities plan large celebrations. For instance, the city of Chicago dyes the river green every year in commemoration of the holiday and Boston hosts one of the most prominent St. Patrick's Day parades around the world.

What Does St. Patrick's Day Mean for Christian?

St. Patrick's Day is a celebration that holds a lot of spiritual meaning for Christian. First, the holiday is a traditional day for spiritual renewal. It is a day that Christian can use to reflect on their spiritual walk and reflect on their relationship with God. St. Patrick found that renewal, because he considered himself a pagan before he became a slave and discovered his relationship with God through prayer.

Second, Christian can use the time to pray for missionaries around the world and consider the calling on their lives to become missionaries either in their schools or in other areas of the world. St. Patrick was adept at speaking and converting pagans in Ireland, and he faced many trials due to his mission work. Missionaries today face many of the same trials, and need the prayers of Christians near and far.

Dear Lord, today we pray that you would be with each of the special people that serve as missionaries around this world. Be pray for safety for each one and that each would have a freedom of speech so they can continue to share Your love around the world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Tomatoes and Balance

Deuteronomy 32:4  (NIV)

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

I have planted our first garden in many years, in fact the first garden since we moved from Michigan in 1994.  One of the vegetables we focused on is tomatoes with the plan of canning spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce. With my focus on the garden this article about balance stuck out to me.

After last year's crop of tomatoes, which didn't amount to very much, I decided to change the soil. Early in the spring I removed much of the topsoil and replaced it with new. Now, it is necessary to understand that my crop consists of four plants, not a whole field.

I carefully chose healthy-looking plants to go into their plot in the garden. Here they were with new soil, well fertilized, and off to a good start. For a while they seemed to really come along -- the stalks were like trees, and the foliage was profuse. We had a lot of rain, and, in time, the plants reached far beyond their stakes.

But what of the tomatoes? The yellow blooms decorated the tops of the plants, but as the days passed with the rain never seeming to let up, the fruit didn't come to be. All the growth seemed to go to the husky plant. Maybe the bees were refusing to work on those rainy days!

Finally we had a few days of hot sunny weather in a row, and some of the many flowers produced their fruit. But it looked like another crop failure for me.

Though I seemingly did all I could to produce the perfect crop, something was not right. How many times in our lives do we do everything that seems perfect, only to fail in our attempt?

It seems a puzzle: too much, too little. Where do we obtain a balance, and what happens if we do?

Let me put it this way, the tomato way: good soil, good weather -- just the right balance of sun and rain -- and of course the expertise of a good gardener to boot. That perfect balance produces much fruit.

When we think of it, it's simple, isn't it? All we need to have for the perfect balance in our spiritual life is at our disposal. It is the God way: the best Book, perfect instructions, and a balance that only God can give. This fills our life with grounded roots, and a healthy, spirit-filled body that can bear much fruit.

Dear Lord of all, we come to You today, asking you to help us to balance the things in our life, that we might grow spiritually in Your perfect will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Three Trees

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

Dear Lord, we thank You for preparing us to be used in the way that You have planned for each of us. Help us not get down but rejoice in the fact that You are preparing to Use each of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Is the Grass Really Greener on the Other Side of the Fence?

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

    never will I forsake you.”

A farmer became tired of his farm; and no wonder, you'll say, for he was born on the place. He had spent all his days on that quarter section. When a boy, he drove the cows to and from the pasture, picked apples in the orchard, swam in the creek just around the bend, trudged across the meadow and through the woods to the little frame schoolhouse down at the crossroads.

When he grew to young manhood, he had plowed every acre of the tillable land in the spring, helped to put up the hay in the summer, threshed in the fall, and hauled fodder for the stock in winter. To this same old home he brought his bride. His three children had been born under the same roof where he was born. They had now grown up and gone to homes of their own.

He was sick and tired of the surroundings. He wanted a change; and often in his dreams he pictured a quiet spot where conditions were ideal, where he could spend his old age in comfort and be happy. He told the real estate dealer in town how he felt, so the agent drove out and looked the farm over carefully. He felt sure he would have no difficulty in finding a buyer.

When the weekly paper came on Thursday, the old farmer looked over the ads, and found his farm listed. It stated that the Hammond place of one hundred sixty acres was for sale. The land was fertile and productive - a crop failure had never been known. Forty acres were covered with the best of timber; an artesian well furnished water the year round. There was an abundance of pasture land, through which flowed a small creek; and there was an ideal dwelling house of eight rooms. The barn was large and modern; there were machine sheds, and a granary with spacious bins.

The place was well stocked with horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. It was close to the city, on the rural free delivery, and had a telephone. There were all kinds of fruit trees, both large and small, with abundance of shade around the house.

The old man read the advertisement the second time, then hitched up the team and drove to town to see the real estate agent. "I have read that advertisement," he said, "and as nearly as I can figure out, that's exactly the kind of place I have been wanting. I think I will keep it myself."

How often do we take for granted what we have. Take the time today to look at what you have been given and be thankful.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would be thankful for all you have given to us. Help us not just go through the motions and forget how good we have it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Shout and be Glad

Zechariah 2:10 (NIV)

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.

Billy Bray of Cornwall, England was a coal miner who lived a depraved life before his conversion in November 1832. After his remarkable salvation experience, Billy Bray was so happy — he shouted all the time. It bothered some people that he had so much joy.

One day, somebody said to him: “Billy Bray, why don’t you tone down some? You’re just too happy. You've got too much joy all the time.”

Billy replied: “I can’t help it. God saved me and I can’t help it. When I put down one foot it says hallelujah, and when I put down the other foot it says glory to God.”

Another said: “Billy, suppose you’re mistaken? Suppose when you die you find out that you’re not going to Heaven after all, you’re going to Hell.”

Old Billy said, “Praise God, I've been having a wonderful time in the Lord all through the years. Jesus has been good to me and if I die and go down to Hell, then I’ll be thankful for the joy Jesus brought me in life. I’ll shout all over Hell and they’ll have to send me up to Heaven because they can’t stand that kind of joy down there.”

Are you joyful in the Lord? Well then show it!

Dear Lord, help us shout today with joy for You. Thanks for all the things You have done for us and for the joy it brings to our life. Help us not take it for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

True Happiness

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV)

12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

There once was a very wealthy and successful man. He had more money than he could ever spend and he was admired and looked up to by his community. Still, he knew that something was missing in his life. He wasn't happy. All his life he had pursued happiness and strived for happiness but had never been able to find it.

Then one day he heard about a hidden temple in Nepal that had a special room that contained the secret to happiness. He immediately sold all that he owned and set out to find this hidden temple. After many years of searching and countless hardships he arrived there. He was weary and pennyless, but he knew that none of that mattered now that he had found the temple. He asked a wise, smiling monk if he could enter the special room. The monk agreed and showed him the stairs leading to the room. He climbed them with legs shaking with anticipation and slowly opened the door. He stared into the room with sunlight streaming through the window and saw what he had come so far to find. There hanging on the wall was the secret of happiness. The man gazed at his reflection in the mirror and laughed.

It is time that we all realized that we are the secret to our own happiness. Happiness is a choice that we make within. God loves us and gives each one of us the ability to fill our lives with love, joy, peace, happiness, and oneness with Him. We need only choose to do so moment by moment and day by day. It doesn't matter what our outer circumstances are either, because the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. Don’t spend the rest of your life searching the world for happiness then. Just look in the mirror and laugh. Just let the happiness flow from your heart, mind, and soul until it fills your life and the lives of all those around you.

Dear Lord, thank you for the happiness that You bring to each of us. Help us look to You for that happiness instead of all the things around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.