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
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
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)
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)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Live an Attitude of Prayer
Love Others
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8 says, Finally all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Prayer Launch: We are to have an understanding and tender heart for people we come in contact with every day. It is difficult, in the world, not to be judgmental or prideful towards others. We need to remember how much God loves us and wants us to be loving and kind to others. We need to be humble thinking less of ourselves and more of others.
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8 says, Finally all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Prayer Launch: We are to have an understanding and tender heart for people we come in contact with every day. It is difficult, in the world, not to be judgmental or prideful towards others. We need to remember how much God loves us and wants us to be loving and kind to others. We need to be humble thinking less of ourselves and more of others.
Lord, thank you for hearing my prayers this morning…
I pray that this week has encouraged you that you might live an attitude of prayer by staying in His presence, keeping a thankful heart, sharing the Good News, keeping a servant heart, and always loving others.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Live Outside Yourself
Live Your Faith
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Mere words, prayers or well-wishing does nothing to satisfy someone’s hunger for food, warmth or love. This is just wishful thinking. Words without action are useless. Faith without action is dead and useless. Real faith is accompanied by actions. The faith of believers is seen through the loving actions that flow out of faith. It opens eyes and hearts to receiving the good news.
We all have experienced thinking without taking action regarding reaching out to those experiencing all kinds of needs. During hard times we understandably withdraw within ourselves, weighed down with our circumstances. God calls us to action through our faith, to share and care for one another and carry each other’s burdens when He gives us the opportunity. Opportunities come in good times and hard times. When you share God’s love you will receive many blessings in return.
How has this week’s scripture and comments prompted you to look for ways to live outside yourself. How will you live your faith accompanied by actions in good times and hard times?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Mere words, prayers or well-wishing does nothing to satisfy someone’s hunger for food, warmth or love. This is just wishful thinking. Words without action are useless. Faith without action is dead and useless. Real faith is accompanied by actions. The faith of believers is seen through the loving actions that flow out of faith. It opens eyes and hearts to receiving the good news.
We all have experienced thinking without taking action regarding reaching out to those experiencing all kinds of needs. During hard times we understandably withdraw within ourselves, weighed down with our circumstances. God calls us to action through our faith, to share and care for one another and carry each other’s burdens when He gives us the opportunity. Opportunities come in good times and hard times. When you share God’s love you will receive many blessings in return.
How has this week’s scripture and comments prompted you to look for ways to live outside yourself. How will you live your faith accompanied by actions in good times and hard times?
Post your thoughts today…
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Live Outside Yourself
Take Care of People in Need
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: How does John the Baptist answer the crowd’s question, “What should we do [to demonstrate our faith]? Look back at today’s scripture.
What one thing can you do [or are you doing] to show your faith in keeping with this scripture?
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: How does John the Baptist answer the crowd’s question, “What should we do [to demonstrate our faith]? Look back at today’s scripture.
What one thing can you do [or are you doing] to show your faith in keeping with this scripture?
Post your thoughts today…
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Live Outside Yourself
Take care of the Family of Believers
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: When “we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” God puts opportunities in our path. Helping and serving is not voluntary. We are to help and serve ALL, which includes nonbelievers and believers. Our focus should be “the family of believers” regardless of church or denomination. However our helping and serving should reach outside as well to nonbelievers opening ears and hearts to hearing the good news.
Read today’s scripture again. What jumps out at you? How are you doing?
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: When “we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” God puts opportunities in our path. Helping and serving is not voluntary. We are to help and serve ALL, which includes nonbelievers and believers. Our focus should be “the family of believers” regardless of church or denomination. However our helping and serving should reach outside as well to nonbelievers opening ears and hearts to hearing the good news.
Read today’s scripture again. What jumps out at you? How are you doing?
Post your thoughts today…
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Live Outside Yourself
Take Care of Family and Relatives
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: A Christian, who neglects the basic care and support of his family denies his faith, denies what he professes to believe. He is “worse than an unbeliever” because he knows what God expects of him and even an unbeliever has been known to take care of his family. A believer loves and has allegiance to God. We demonstrate our love for God through the privilege of loving and caring for our families.
How do you honor taking care of “relatives, and especially [your] immediate family?”
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: A Christian, who neglects the basic care and support of his family denies his faith, denies what he professes to believe. He is “worse than an unbeliever” because he knows what God expects of him and even an unbeliever has been known to take care of his family. A believer loves and has allegiance to God. We demonstrate our love for God through the privilege of loving and caring for our families.
How do you honor taking care of “relatives, and especially [your] immediate family?”
Post your thoughts today…
Monday, April 20, 2009
Live Outside Yourself
Take Care of Each Other
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: We are to share, in love, the struggles and problems of others. The “law of Christ” is His command to “love one another” [John 13:34]. When we carry “each other’s burdens,” we fulfill the law of Christ.
What sort of burdens are your family, neighbors, co-workers or friends carrying? How can you [or do you] help carry their load?
Do you hold doors for people? Do you make pleasant small talk with cashiers or anyone who could use a smile during their day?
Post your thoughts today…
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