Can We Show Some Compassion???

I have some quotes on compassion I have come across the past few days that I thought would fall in place with what has been weighing heavily upon my heart. My heart is burdened to feel for those who don't know the Lord. I want to see them as the Lord does...lost and needing a helping hand to lead them to the one true Light!!!

"Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation." -Henry Ward Beecher

This quote speaks to me in the vein that if we are showing compassion, we are likely to be able to reach sinners where they are. Too often, we are caught condemning the sin, rather than loving the sinner.

"We ought to be people of compassion. And being people of compassion means we deny ourselves, and our self-centeredness." -Mike Huckabee

If we are only concerned about ourselves, we can't have a heart for others.

"Compassion costs. It is easy enough to argue, criticize and condemn, but redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but It takes heart to comfort." -Samuel Chadwick

How easy it is to kick someone when they're down. It's much harder to lend a hand and stand in the gap for someone who has fallen. If we aren't there for them, who will be?

And the final quote I will share is this..."I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it." -Thomas Aquinas

Ouch! That one hits home...it's easy to talk about this and that, but when the rubber hits the road, what are we doing about it? My dad always used the old line..."your actions speak so loud I can't hear a word you're saying" What are our actions saying? Are we truly loving others and showing the compassion that has been shown to us?

May we practice what we tell others we believe...hollow words mean nothing if they aren't backed up with our lives.

There are several verses on compassion you can look to as well...Matthew 18 tell the story of a master who has compassion, only to have that one show nothing of the sort in return to another (verses 23-35)...also Luke 7:13, where the Lord showed compassion upon the widow...the Samaritan showed compassion in Luke 10 as well...the Scripture references are nearly endless...

Our lives should live out the verse that the picture above illustrates, which is found in Philippians 3:14..."I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Everything we do should be towards that end!!!

Do you have a favorite verse or quote that deals with compassion? Share it with us...

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Set Apart or Blending In???

As I got home this evening from church, I continued to focus on the first point of Caleb's message tonight...being sanctified. The definition of sanctified reads like this...(1) to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use (2) to free from sin (3)(a) to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to (b) to give moral or social sanction to. We are called to be set apart, free from sin...and to be sanctioned, both morally and socially. Being sanctioned socially would mean that we are noticed to be different, right?

As I was thinking and praying on this I came across a great passage I wanted to share with you from James 1:19-27..."Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

The first verse hits us right where it hurts, doesn't it? Be quick to listen, but slow to talk and quarrel...the Amplified version brings it out like this..."Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry." So we need to mind our tongue and temper, people (actually pointing more at myself than others here). We also see it continue that by getting angry and offended we are not showing forth the righteousness of God.

Verse 21 continues by saying to get rid of all the junk we are carrying around, whether it be by habit, addiction or whatever else it could possibly have a hold on you. The Amplified puts it this way..."So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls." So when we get rid of the stuff that holds us back, we allow room for the Word to penetrate and work in and through our lives.

The next verse is one we have all heard numerous times...be doers and not hearers only. If we listen that's good, but if we put no action to our belief, how can people see it? If we don't show forth the love of Christ, how will anyone even tell we possess it? And as it continues on, if a man seems "religious", but can't control his tongue...his religion is vain. This is where I would make the case against religion and FOR Christianity. It's not about men's ideas and interpretations, but rather about Christ...it's ALL ABOUT HIM!!!

And finally, what TRUE religion (Christianity) looks like...be there for those in need and keep one's self unspotted from the affairs and sins of this world. I hope this passage holds great meaning for you and maybe struck a chord in your heart today. But, as it says...don't just hear it...DO IT...and what better time than today. No telling who you will encounter today that need to know what you have been hiding in your heart...let it show!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Worthy IS the Lamb!!!

I have to admit that I was inspired to share this post by viewing a post over at WorldPrayer. Personally, I feel this is one of the most deeply touching worship songs in recent memory. If you've ever seen the movie "Passion of the Christ"...you left changed forever. This video puts the song to the backdrop of clips from the movie. How can we feel big or like God is honored to have us serving for Him when we put into perspective what Christ did for us?

The passage that comes to mind when I think of my unworthiness is found in Isaiah 6:5..."Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." When we truly get a glimpse of God in His glory, we will truly bow and worship and say "Worthy is the Lamb"!!! I pray that this video touches you like it did me...




What thoughts come to your mind when seeing the images accompanied by the song? Please share them with each other!

And also please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!