Encouragement

Mother Theresa or Attila the Hun?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

One day we are born. From that day on each of us is formed by everything and everyone we encounter. We begin a journey, one fraught with difficulty, joy and opportunity. The journey’s end cannot be predicted. When we are wise we rely on our Creator and on each other. When we are self-centered we lose touch with those closest to us and to the One who set the sun in the sky and whales in the ocean. We have a lifetime – no matter its length – from first cry to last sigh. 

 Because of our human nature on some days we are Mother Theresa, charitable, passionate servants, and full of mercy. On other days we’re Attila the Hun, all about power and self-interest. The decision about how we will live is up to us. Will we be charitable servants or barbaric invaders?

Our God is not the great puppeteer. Our life choices are ours. Believers are better prepared for the charitable servant path. We have the fruit of the Spirit to call upon: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. On the days we feel like Attila the Hun we need to remember God’s promise to be with us all the days of our lives, even when we're acting more like Attila than Theresa.

___________________________________

Please share this post with others by clicking on the buttons below. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Share the Light

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Compassion lightens a load. Kindness relieves a burden. Humility puts the needs of others first. Gentleness relieves your fears and the fears of those around you. Patience replaces selfish ambition with trust in the One. Place your emphasis on service and your life is enriched in ways you never imagined. Share the Light.

__________________________

Please share this post with others by clicking on the buttons below. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Every New Day

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
² Worship the Lord with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
  It is he who made us, and we are his;
  we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
  and his courts with praise;
  give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
  his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Lord Takes Delight In You

 Be the Reason Other People Smile

Image from clipart.com

For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4

When you have done your best and you’ve been told by critics that your best isn’t good enough, it’s easy to get down on yourself. More volunteers are discouraged by criticism than are retained by praise. Pointing out the chinks in a plan rather than looking for ways to shore it up accomplishes nothing. The Lord takes delight in all of us. What kind of world would it be if we delight in others? Take delight in the people around you. Be the reason they smile. Help them succeed.



_____________________________________________

Please share this post with others by clicking on the buttons below. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.