Friday, February 26, 2010

Our Attitudes





“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5 (NIV)



How we act and react to the people and events that enter our lives should reflect Jesus. We have to shed ourselves of ‘us’ and take on His way of dealing with things even things that tend to upset us.

Jesus showed compassion on the crowds who met Him as he traveled. He tenderly healed the woman who was ill for twelve years. Christ took pity on the 5,000 men and their families and fed them.

I had a worry growing in my mind. This concern dealt with my husband of 41 years. When I went to do business at my bank and mail some letters, mostly bills. I decided to go on over to the church office and take care of something there.

As I finished the actual business there. I shared with one of the secretaries what I had heard from Hubby. As I shared with her, I told her that several years ago a friend his had problems of the same kind. But I couldn’t finish the thought. She understood. I felt better after I talked to her. She showed compassion.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Mindful of Others?




“Each of you should look not only to your own interests

but, also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:4. (NIV)





The church at Philippi was a diverse church. When people of different backgrounds worship together and work for the Lord, there has to be a sense of unity. Also a feeling of love and being loved should be seen and felt in order for those needing Christ to find Him.

All who feel called to work in missions, be it in the community or on mission fields, national or world wide, have a heart for others. Local efforts of ministry groups in my hometown focus on the homeless, those who fall below the poverty level, those who have a parent incarcerated, those who are struggling to keep their families together, those who are working to keep sober and clean, those who experience hunger and those who are fleeing abuse.

Given these economically hard times, we hear of more and more people who have lost their jobs and sometimes their homes. We hear of people not getting the medical help they need because they lack medical insurance. As God’s children, we have to ask Him if we can do more to help.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Unselfishly

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourself.”

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)





Paul told the Philippian believers to forget self and remember they were not number one. He tells them to put others and their needs before the needs they had.

Just over 25 years ago, I started worshiping at a small church about a half mile from where we live. I met one of the older ladies of the church who told a group of us a way to handle ministering to others, She used the word JOY. She said it meant *J*esus, *O*thers, *Y*ourself. As I prepared to write this section, this memory came to my mind.

In the Bible, we have the passage that tells us ‘Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’ We are to work in more or less in secret when we perform deeds for the Lord.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...