Share Your Joy

Share Your Joy “It is unbelievable! I don’t know how this kind of wonderful thing has happened to me!” “I still don’t believe it! There must be a reasonable answer.” “Yes, your cure is miraculous. I don’t know about you, but I’m giving all the glory to God!” Who calls themselves blessed? Is it only when something extraordinary happens in our lives that we are prodded to say, “I’m blessed.” Are we as equally filled with rejoice because we woke up this morning able to talk, walk, and think? Do we call it a blessing when we are delayed 5 minutes when leaving the house and see a terrible accident having just happened? Do we call ourselves blessed when we hear of the tragedies in another’s life that is horrific? Mary told Elizabeth of her joy of her baby, Jesus, and acknowledged that God has looked with favour on her and believed that all generations will call her blessed. We have the model of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, to show us how to allow our spirit to rejoice. Share often with others what joys the gift that Jesus brings to your life so that in the generations to come others may be inclined to imitate such a rejoicing spirit. Luke 1:46-56 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

The Miracle of Grace

The Miracle of Grace “It’s your fault I didn’t do well. You always make me feel insecure about myself.” “Mom, can you help me? I can’t do this alone.” “Thank you so much. I couldn’t have found the strength if you hadn’t been with me.” It is our hope that can rely a great deal physically and emotionally on our mothers, fathers and role models. We naturally lend our hearts to faith believing they know more than we do and that they will lead us on the right path. It is our duty and honor to teach, lead and pray for those who rely on us to feel emotionally and spiritually well. Jesus once told a blind man who wanted to see, “Go your faith has made you well.” When you call on Jesus, take heart, He hears you when you call Him. It is up to you to spring up, throw off what weighs you down and go to Him. The rest is the miracle of God’s continued graces on your life. Mark 10:46-52 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Love For Eternity

Love For Eternity “If you ever say that again, I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap!” “You see what you get! It was your own foot that caused you to trip and fall.” “It was karma! You should not have been walking into that house in the first place!” “I’ll never do that again! I’ve learned my lesson!” We may be quick to judge the actions of others. We may even bring attention to our own faults. Based on our own set of values we point out the shortcomings of others and impose what we think should be their just punishment. Is our own conduct so perfect that we can easily tell others where they are blemished or spoiled? Are we people worthy of emulating? If there is a part rotting on a piece of fruit we cut it off or toss the whole thing into the trash. If we see a blood stain on a garment we deem it no longer useful for us to wear. Be rid of all that that keeps you from conducting yourself like a child of God. To quote a man named Jesus, “Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.” Chances are when we are well versed in the basic rules of decency we will raise our families and conduct ourselves in a good way. When we use love as the basis of our interactions we will promote love and receive love in return. Rather than leaving fate to chance, better we live now without scalding one another in the inferno of selfishness, burning in the flame of anger and vindictiveness, charring and blistering in acts of wickedness and un-forgiveness, lest we desire to live that way for eternity. Love is like eternity in heaven. It’s very essence and purpose is to make another feel complete in love without ceasing. Mark 9:41-50 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Forfeiting A Prize Has It's Reward

Forfeiting A Prize Has It’s Reward “I am so mad! I was first in line and when they opened they began at the end.” “Are you crazy! I’m going to help myself before I even think of helping anyone else!” “I don’t care if I have 3 computers, I won this one and I’m keeping it. Why should I give it to that kid whose parents can’t afford to buy him one!” If we are first we may be able to assure our purchase, our allotment of free goodies or perhaps even our pick of the litter. Being first should not always be at the top of our desires. Allowing someone to go in front of us should not make us feel cheated. Signing up for a free concert for the underprivileged and finding that our name is not on the list should not make us feel short changed. Being rich, famous or better off than our neighbor should not make us feel as though we are above everyone else. When you live your life as a servant of others, when you can be humble and generous, and wish well those who receive benefits you did not, you will find your heart feels as though it won a great prize. Mark 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Thoroughness, Faith & Prayer

Thoroughness, Faith & Prayer “Why do you ask me to pray? There is no hope. The doctors have done all they can do.” “I know you are a professional at what you do. This might be too difficult, but could you see if you know how to do this?” There is only so much that we can do with our human hands and minds. And even that is a grace from God. Asking for the impossible, requesting the simple, demanding for what seems routine all require a degree of faith. Knowing that all things are through the works and grace of God should give us patience to wait, acceptance of His will, and an opportunity to grow deeper in our faith. Jesus taught the faithless, that this kind (perhaps healing, peace, curing) can only come through prayer. When you are troubled, do what you can with thoroughness and faith, pray and leave the rest to God. Mark 9:14-29 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?' Someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.' He answered them, 'You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.' And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, 'From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.' Jesus said to him, 'If you are able!-All things can be done for the one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!' After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'This kind can come out only through prayer.'

Giving Beyond The Bare Minimum

Giving Beyond The Bare Minimum “Can you spare a dime?” “Sorry, this is my last 20 bucks.” “It can't be that you've got nowhere to go. You must have someone you can stay with.” “I won’t take no for an answer. The gift is already on its way.” When and how do you give? Do you guard and hoard what you earn or inherit? Could you give up your leisure time for the sake of a lonely or ill person? Would you offer a warm comfortable bed to a person suffering a hardship? Can you recall all the times God gave you more than you deserved? We all have much than can be shared. The surplus of our time, the unused money in our accounts and the untapped benefits of our talents are just morsels of our gifts. Sacrificing deeper than our usual financial baseline, praying for others beyond our daily prayer routines, and doing more than what is asked of us is giving out of our poverty. To give beyond the bare minimum is reward in our spirit and celebrated in Heaven. Luke 21:1-4 Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put all in she had to live on.”

Cling To Mercy

Cling To Mercy “I know you forgave me. But I can’t forgive her for all she’s put me through.” It does not matter the transgression, “forgiveness is forgiveness” no matter the size or type of offense. To forgive is not a partial act, conditional idea, or something done in due time. Forgive others from your heart with immediacy lest you delay and risk losing your opportunity allowing a loving heart to harden. God forgives us even before we blunder. If we do not CLING TO MERCY, God’s mercy may be there for us no more. Matthew 18:21-35 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."