Rejoicing & Mourning

 

By Kerry S. Doyal, Grace Bible Church, www.GetGraced.org

No Doubt:
Tiggers are much more fun to be around than Eeyores. Yet Eeyores need love too. And tiring Tiggers need you to be hoppy & happy with them.

One of the most powerful gifts we can offer is that of empathy. Feeling the pain or planning the party with those who are celebrating or commiserating.

In a highly practical list of best family practices for believers, Paul urges us in Romans 12:15 to:

"Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn."

Who do you know that recently received good news? Celebrate them! Note their news, award, accomplishment with genuine joy - even if it was good news you did not receive.

Who is grieving, discouraged, taking lumps from life right now? Let them you know are sorry, pray for (WITH) them, send a card, share a tear, heft a hug, slip a twenty.

Party with the blessed.
Hurt and weep with the wounded.

The challenge is to not resent those celebrating when you feel life is kicking you in the shins. Nor are we to gloat over the hurting, even if - according to us - they "are finally getting their comeuppance, paying their dues."

"Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn." (NIV)
 
I (Susan) think this is one of the areas that we, as a body of Christ Followers, tend to slip.  I know I do.  I also know that it is this very thing that causes people to feel isolated in the church.  I've been there.  I have felt SO isolated from the fellowship because health problems prevented me from attending services.  And I know at least 3 other ladies that have also felt the same isolation because of similar situations.
 
I am not writing this to say "Shame on you," but instead as a challenge to all of us. 
 
 
So rejoice and celebrate with the Tiggers in you life.  BUT don't forget the Eeyores.  Make a phone call, send a card, deliver a meal, ask "How can I help?  How can I pray?"

How many Blessings do You enjoy?

"O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

- Fanny Crosby

The following came in an email we subscribe to.  Do we do any better than the church in this anecdote?  I pray we do but fear we do not.

Subscription info is at the bottom of the post.

Caring Churches

A church newsletter mentioned a man who visited eighteen different churches on successive Sundays. He was trying to find out what the churches were really like. He said, "I sat near the front. After the service, I walked slowly to the rear, then returned to the front and went back to the foyer using another aisle. I smiled and was neatly dressed. I asked one person to direct me to a specific place: a fellowship hall, pastor's study, etc. I remained for coffee if served. I used a scale to rate the reception I received. I awarded points on the following basis:

10 for a smile from a worshiper

10 for a greeting from someone sitting nearby

100 for an exchange of names

200 for an invitation to have coffee

200 for an invitation to return

1000 for an introduction to another worshiper

2000 for an invitation to meet the pastor

On this scale, eleven of the eighteen churches earned fewer than 100 points. Five actually received less than 20.

The conclusion: The doctrine may be biblical, the singing inspirational, the sermon uplifting, but when a visitor finds nobody who cares whether he's here, he is not likely to come back."


SUBSCRIBE INFO
Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com

Godly Mothers Needed

Mother: God's Servant

by Charles Stanley

Before a child ever hears about the Lord at church, he or she witnesses a parent's example of faith. For this reason, all children share the common need for a godly mother.

Love toward God multiplies and spills out from believers onto others, including sons and daughters. God's care is pure and unselfish - much different than what the world offers. When we experience His concern, provision, and protection, it's easier for our children to grow up loving God.

Every child needs a mom who trusts God. A perfect mother is unrealistic. And she wouldn't be good for her kids in the long run. Witnessing Mom's trust during trials and heartbreaks is the way children learn to place their faith in God. Teaching little ones to trust ensures they'll always know the heavenly Father is close, even when parents aren't.

Every child also needs a mother who knows how to pray. A wise mom teaches her children how to access almighty God. Dr. Stanley still recalls his mother's voice as she knelt next to his bed each night. Thanks to her, he understood very early that God was always listening and willing to respond to his prayers.

A mother serves many people, including her spouse, children, extended family, and friends. But she must serve the Lord first. When she accepts God's love, practices trust, and keeps a daily discipline of prayer and Bible reading, she'll find the strength to fulfill all of His requirements.
 

 I Love You Mom.

 

Prayer Heard and Answered

I posted on May 5th about the need and power of  prayer in the believers life.  Sadly I failed to put into practice what I said I believed. 

Today was different.  We started our school morning with prayer.  I specifically prayed for encouragement for my husband in his job today.  About 2 hours later he called.  His tone was very upbeat.  He had just come from a meeting with his new boss.  This was a meeting that he probably went into with a not so great attitude.  A meeting that could have meant more discouragement.

Instead GOD used this meeting to clarify to his new boss the process that he goes through and all the paperwork involved in his job as 'Fleet Services Specialist'. David is now encouraged that something will be done to streamline the process so that he will be doing what he is supposed to do (spec and order vehicles etc.) instead of doing a clerking job.

I was in tears as he told me the positive things that will happen as a result of this meeting. Of course he heard the catch in my voice and asked why I was crying.  Praise God for answered prayer!

We have made a commitment to each other and our children to devote ourselves to a time of prayer as a family after supper each evening.

Won't you join us?  If you would like to make your own commitment to prayer as a family, please post a comment on the blog.

Special Needs Week

This is from my niece Jenna, Axels Mom.

People need to understand that children with
special needs don't have an illness, so there is no cure & it's
not contagious. They only want what we all want, to be accepted.
99.9% of you probably won't copy and paste this. Will you do it and
leave it on your status for at least an hour? It's Special
Education...week, and this is in honor of all the kids who need a
little extra help & understanding. ♥

Lack of prayer in the life of the Believer

"...one concern of the devil is to keep saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." - Samuel Chadwick

Twenty-six years ago 5/4/1989....

David and I went out for the first time.  I had to work that evening so he kindly came to the restaurant, waited for me to get off work, followed me home, waited for me to change clothes while being 'grilled' by my parents.
 We then drove back into town to a pizza joint that is no longer in existence.

To be continued...

WHATEVER my God ordains is right

This is my prayer today.  May I learn AND chose to be content whatever my lot

Definitions from Webster 1828

Whatever: any thing that may be
Ordain:  To appoint; to decree
Decree: In theology, predetermined purpose of God...whose plan of operations is like himself, unchangeable
Right: Freedom from error

Paul writes this to the Philippian Believers:
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians chapter 4.

Whatever My God Ordains Is Right

Original words by Samuel Rodigast, 1676
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Music and alternate words by Mark Altrogge

Verse 1
Whatever my God ordains is right
In His love I am abiding
I will be still in all He does
And follow where He is guiding
He is my God, though dark my road
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

Verse 2
Whatever my God ordains is right
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path
I know He will not leave me
I take content, what He has sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

Verse 3
Whatever my God ordains is right
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, or need, or death be mine
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care circles me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

Verse 4
Whatever my God ordains is right
Though now this cup in drinking
Bitter it seems to my faint heart
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true, each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart