Tag Archives: Caring

Me First!!! Really??? Not New!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #646

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, By His Grace, Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Helping The Needy, Holy Living

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #646   Me First!!!  Really???  Not New!!!

 

While we live in a “me” culture, and it’s sure busy right now, our Lord calls us to a higher calling of loving God and loving and caring for others before self—“ME”!  Ouch!  I thought we were supposed to pursue “self” sufficiency?  Jesus calls us to a higher pursuit—the call of God to reach, help and love others.

“And he came to Capernaum:

and being in the house he asked them,

What was it that ye disputed

among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace:

for by the way they had disputed

among themselves,

who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down,

and called the twelve,

and saith unto them,

If any man desire to be first,

the same shall be last of all,

and servant of all.”   Mark 9:33-35

The disciples of Jesus were just like you and I—men of flesh and bone—men with human longings and desires—men who wanted to succeed and advance; and while there is nothing wrong with the pursuit of excellence, there can be something wrong with seeking ‘self’ before God and others.

Jesus gave the disciples another lesson on this same subject which I think worthy of our consideration in the present distress–always.  What is our focus?  What is our pursuit?  What is our desire?  To please God and help others, or to come out ahead?  While we do have limitations in what we can do right now, where we can go, or how many we can meet with, we can still care for others within the legal limitations we are under.  Phone calls are permitted.  Text messages are permitted.  Letters are permitted.  Walking down the street is permitted—even with a smile instead of a frowning complaint!  What are we willing to do with our time, talents, and resources?  Has God asked you to serve someone that is out of your way?  Has He placed someone on your heart to minister to, and you’ve just sloughed it off, or put it off until the present distress is passed?  Are we wanting recognition, or is our heart yielding to our Master to minister to others as we have opportunity and means?  Jesus elevated service over self!  What are you and I doing with that call?

“But Jesus called them to him,

and saith unto them,

Ye know that they which are accounted

to rule over the Gentiles

exercise lordship over them;

and their great ones

exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you:

but whosoever

will be great among you,

shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you

will be the chiefest,

shall be servant of all.

45 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 10:42-45

What will we give our life to? For?  May we all look around and meet the needs that God brings into our view?  Take some time today to pray and look around you, God may be calling you to meet a need.  Blessings on your day!  Amen!

Thank YOU For Caring!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #622

31 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Giving Or Taking?, Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Thankful

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #622      Thank YOU For Caring!!!

 

I’d like to revisit a topic that is near and dear to my heart—gratitude!  I personally want to thank all of you for your prayers for our family in the recent tragic death of my daughter.  So many have reached out to us in more ways than I can mention, and we want to thank you for your kindness toward us.  I also want to take just a few moments to encourage you to reach out to others—to be sure you’re listening when God prompts you to remember someone special in your life; don’t take it as ‘co-incidence’ but rather know that it’s a “God-incidence” and He is asking you to ‘do’ something!  Don’t wait, pray, make that phone call to thank one: who befriended you, who reached out to you in a time of need, was a Sunday School teacher who touched your life, a special friend who is always there, a cousin who helped you be the person you are today!  Send that card, make that call, walk across the street to make that visit, whatever God is speaking to your heart–Don’t miss the opportunity of being a blessing to someone today; or miss receiving the blessing of touching another life with God’s love, mercy and compassion.

“A friend loveth

at all times,

and a brother

is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17

Always remember that words are powerful, and the old children’s adage is far from true, for “sticks and stones may break my bones”….but “words will….” oft times hurt more than bruises!  As I’ve often heard and said, “Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know, which ones you’ll eat”!  So, in closing a timely reminder to us all to be diligent encouragers rather than those who bring discouragement and disregard to others.  Today!

May these passages speak to your heart today and may it be said of us as it was of our Lord Jesus, “He went about doing good!”

“A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold,

and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover

upon an obedient ear.”  Proverbs 25:11-12

And one last reminder, real love is action not just empty ‘words’!  Take some time today to read all of 1 Corinthians 13!  (And FYI ‘charity’ is also translated ‘love’!)

“Charity suffereth long,

and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away…

…13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”   Portions of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Amen!