God's Love Filled to Overflowing

I recently read about a man who turned bitter and helpless when his request for a parking variance on his home was turned down by his neighborhood commission.

His gravel driveway didn’t meet the paved surface required by city code. He had been in a terrible accident and, as a result, health problems had forced him to retire. Although he was sometimes confined to a wheelchair, he still managed to do some work to pay his bills. The 64-year-old needed to park along his fence to use it to support himself while he climbed in and out of his pickup truck.

Everyone wanted to help him out but he didn’t have the money to install a parking pad. One person said he couldn’t get the situation out of his mind. He stepped forward and took action. He called several concrete companies to meet him at the sight, talk about it and come up with a way through the dilemma. The workers, without hesitation, volunteered time and supplies and finished the job in short order.

The man was speechless. He cried. He thought no one really cared.

I don’t know if the man realized it or not but he had experienced God’s love. These were ordinary people who were drawn by the love and caring in their hearts to help someone in need.

God calls us to love Him and to allow His love to overflow into loving others.

Scripture Thought for Today: Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

Read Matthew 22:37-40 on Biblegateway

Loving Your Neighbor

I read in the newspaper recently about a 66 year old man who had seriously injured his knees. He was unable to walk, had surgery, and had to stay in a rehabilitation center. His inability to function within his two-story home kept him from being able to go home.

A neighbor had purchased their home from a handicapped person. When they heard that their elderly neighbor’s recovery depended on his ability to return to a comfortable, easily accessible home, they offered their handicapped friendly ranch home to the man and his wife. The neighbor didn’t have a problem knowing that the man’s recovery could take several weeks or several months. The elderly couple was reluctant at first but eventually accepted the offer. On the day the man was discharged, the neighbors exchanged homes.

The article continues relating how these two couples and other neighbors, who joined in, worked through a very difficult situation together.

Isn’t this an awesome story of loving and caring? The couple, who offered their home didn’t think twice about doing what they did! They said that they just felt it was the right thing to do!

Scripture Thought for Today: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 29:30-31 (NIV)

Attitudes to Live By

Monday: Attitude of Kindness
Tuesday: Attitude of Self-control
Wednesday: Attitude of Patience
Thursday: Attitude of Doing Good
Friday: Attitude of Content

Attitude of Kindness
The Lord has told you, human, what is good; He has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God. Micah 6:8 (NCV)

Scripture Comment: Many times we can’t do anything about the circumstances we find ourselves in. However, we can do something about our attitudes and moods while we are moving through hard times. Honoring God should be on our hearts through good times and bad times.

Kind - this is how you are to be. This is to be your way of life. Do you “love being kind to others”? Are you living in obedience to God? Check your attitude, especially during these challenging times.

Many of us are being slowed down by our life circumstances amid the economic times of today. As we move through unsettled times, we should take the opportunity to check on our attitudes. Our attitudes come from our hearts. Keeping a positive attitude in our hearts with a grasp on what is good in our lives will help us live through difficult times. We will not only be helping ourselves but we will be helping those around us as well.

Pray: Check your attitude of kindness. What is God saying to you in today’s scripture?

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