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 3/1/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ It's time to turn judgement into
compassion. Pain into healing. Hate into forgiveness.
Because when you forgive someone, you release yourself as
well. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Good Morning Brethren!! I hope this finds your Wednesday well! I pray that the Lord is strengthening your heart, even as you are reading this! Be blessed, and if there is someone in the room with you...and they are still there after you read this...I hope you see them in a different light than when you started. Please read on...and enjoy! This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12 Catherine Marshall tells of the time she decided to do a one-day experiment. Oh, it really was an eye-opener for her. You see, she had a problem common to most of us. She found it too easy to be critical of others. Well, one morning as she meditated on the verse, "So don't criticize each other anymore," (Romans 14:13, TLB) she became aware of the Lord nudging her to not be critical for one day. Of course she tried to shove it off. But she couldn't get it out of her mind. So she tried to rationalize her critical attitude. After all, aren't we to use the intelligence God gave us to analyze and evaluate-even though the result is not always positive? The nudging continued right through the debate going on in her mind until she finally agreed to give the experiment a try--but just for the one day would she fast from criticism. Through most of the morning she kept wondering what the result would be at the end of the day. The lunch with her husband and friends was normal except for the unusual silence of one person--Catherine. She had not committed to silence, just to not criticizing. It surprised her to realize how much of her conversation was usually critical and judgmental. She was silent only because she couldn't contribute to the conversation without judging. So, she kept quiet and no one seemed to notice. A sting to the pride as well. It wasn't until mid-afternoon that something special began to happen. The floodgate of ideas began to open and creative thoughts flowed through in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time. At day's end she marveled at all that had transpired simply because she refused to entertain a critical attitude. A letter to encourage a friend, insight into praying for a college student, seeking her child's forgiveness, all filtered through her freely because there were no negative thoughts to stop them. Catherine's one-day experiment became a lifetime habit. Author Unknown JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ *Thought for the Day* Today I will have a passion for God and compassion for people! Received from: Lovinlord JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ ~~~PRICELESS Gifts to give for FREE ~~~ 1. The gift of listening... Try giving this to someone in need. And you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your responses. Just listen 2. The gift of signs of affection... Be generous with your hugs, kisses and gentle squeezes of the hand. Let these tiny actions demonstrate the love inside of you. 3. The gift of a note... It can be as simple as "I Love You" or as creative as a sonnet. Put your notes where they will surprise your loved ones. 4. The gift of laughter... Just cut out a cartoon, save a clever article. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you." 5. The gift of compliment... A simple "You look good in blue" or "Good supper" can be of greatest value to those who may feel they are being taken for granted. 6. The gift of a favor... Help with the dishes, run an errand, etc. 7. The gift of leaving alone... There are times in our lives when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Become more sensitive to those times and give solitude. 8. The gift of a cheerful disposition... Try to be cheerful around those you love. 9. The gift of a game... Offer to play your loved one's favorite game. Even if you lose, you'll be a winner. 10. The gift of prayer... Pray for your loved ones and let them know you pray for them. Submitted by: Hopefilled JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Me again! Brethren, this devotional really hits home with me...and let me tell you why. Remember I was telling you that I am cutting back on the devotionals to spend more time with God and my family? You know what I am learning? The more time I spend with God..the more He POINTS me to my family....and to others, as well. It's like a circle. The Holy Spirit points me to Jesus. Jesus points me to the Father, the Father points me to other people...and then, I catch the overflow! Jimmy and I are blessed with four BEAUTIFUL sons...and we love them all soo much! We made a decision to do something with them last weekend, but we did it a little differently. We took them out, one at a time. And it was a trip! (hehe) We started out with Baby Noah. He is 14 months old, and has a smile that will melt the "hot" off the sun. We took him out to eat, and just watched him, and interacted with him, and loved all over him. We saw the importance of the "one on one" with them...because we know that sometimes, they feel lost in the crowd. So, one by one...we took them out for awhile. When it came to Ben (13), it was pretty late in the evening, and I asked Jimmy if he minded if Ben and I went out on a little "date." So that's what we did, and it was on this excursion that I learned a valuable lesson, and it tied in with Catherine Marshall's story above. Ben and I rambled around in the toy store, 'til they closed and ran us off..lol We ended up having a late supper at a nice restaurant....and we really talked. I was so blessed to do this...especially in light of the latest news, regarding those precious children in Arkansas. I want to relish my time with my family...and ANYONE God puts me in contact with. Even our waiter...and that is the lesson. Our waiter did not give us quality service..and it took a long time to receive our order. But, this gave Ben and me time to talk, so I appreciated that. I had a choice to either be critical of this young man...and react accordingly...or I could be that "vessel," and allow what God has poured into me in the "still times with Him" to take effect...and pour back out. I chose the fruit of God's work in my heart...and continued to treat this man with kindness and compassion. And then it came time to tip him. I knew that tipping is sometimes measured by the quality of service...but I also knew that I had an opportunity to bless him. In other words, I wasn't reacting to him....but to the Holy Spirit. Big difference. Matt 5:44 Not saying that this man was my enemy...but I had a choice to make him one. If there was ever an opportunity to be critical, I had it. But, I didn't choose it. I chose to reap what was already sown in my heart, through God's Word..and His Spirit. Sometimes, we find ourselves "bypassing" that fruit, and reacting in anger...and bitterness. And we give them "what they deserve." I Praise God that He doesn't give me what I deserve. He gave me His Life. He gave me his Son. He gives me compassion, in spite of my own anger. He doesn't react to ME. He pours in the Oil and the Wine...and floods my soul. That is called Grace and Mercy. Luke 10:34 This passage was taken from the story of the Good Samaritan in the Book of Luke. Jesus told this story when this question was posed: Luke 10:29 If you don't know this story, I urge you to read Luke Chapter 10. Excellent nugget! It is important not to "pick and choose" the ones we treat well. <James 2: 1-5> If we don't treat people with God's Love in spite of the way they treat us...then we have missed it. As a precious Sister recently said in an email..( Thanks Doris! ) : "These are the people who are helping us be all that God would have us be. How can we not speak blessings upon them?" Amen, Sister! Negative produces more negative...but when we display the abundant love and mercy that Jesus Christ has put into our heart....then we are producing "the only Begotten Son.".....and He is LOVE. Amen? :) I love you Brethren!! God Bless you soo much! I love you Brethren!! God Bless you soo much! In Christ!!
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