“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” 1Cor.3 ESV
As I open the present of this day, let me share its joys with those around me, for sharing multiplies the joy. But how can you share joy with the unhappy? Some people are so downright miserable and nothing you do seems to cheer them up. I cannot choose joy for another but I can certainly choose it for myself. We are told to love and serve them, then leave the rest to God. The prayer of Saint Francis gives us the right focus. We pray that where there is sadness we may “sow joy.” It is silly to try to reap joy in others before God brings it to harvest. We may plant joy, even water it, but only God can give joy's increase. We must find our joy in loving and serving not in the response that people may or may not have to our acts of kindness. 8/26/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
Just me trying to be honest with God.
"You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others." - Henry Drummond
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” 1Cor.3 ESV
As I open the present of this day, let me share its joys with those around me, for sharing multiplies the joy. But how can you share joy with the unhappy? Some people are so downright miserable and nothing you do seems to cheer them up. I cannot choose joy for another but I can certainly choose it for myself. We are told to love and serve them, then leave the rest to God. The prayer of Saint Francis gives us the right focus. We pray that where there is sadness we may “sow joy.” It is silly to try to reap joy in others before God brings it to harvest. We may plant joy, even water it, but only God can give joy's increase. We must find our joy in loving and serving not in the response that people may or may not have to our acts of kindness. 8/26/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
As I open the present of this day, let me share its joys with those around me, for sharing multiplies the joy. But how can you share joy with the unhappy? Some people are so downright miserable and nothing you do seems to cheer them up. I cannot choose joy for another but I can certainly choose it for myself. We are told to love and serve them, then leave the rest to God. The prayer of Saint Francis gives us the right focus. We pray that where there is sadness we may “sow joy.” It is silly to try to reap joy in others before God brings it to harvest. We may plant joy, even water it, but only God can give joy's increase. We must find our joy in loving and serving not in the response that people may or may not have to our acts of kindness. 8/26/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
“Charity sees the need, not the cause.” German Proverb
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Jesus
I am grateful that God helps me even when I am the main reason I need help in the first place. In light of this, it seems rather obvious that I should not withhold helping others until they deserve it. I am amazed that I actually have these thoughts. Let me be as gracious to others as God is gracious to me. Of course that is impossible in one sense. When I show mercy it is because I have been shown mercy. When God shows mercy, He does so because it is His nature to be merciful. God has never needed mercy, but He finds in Himself the need to show it because He is mercy. Oh that I would become thus. 8/25/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
I am grateful that God helps me even when I am the main reason I need help in the first place. In light of this, it seems rather obvious that I should not withhold helping others until they deserve it. I am amazed that I actually have these thoughts. Let me be as gracious to others as God is gracious to me. Of course that is impossible in one sense. When I show mercy it is because I have been shown mercy. When God shows mercy, He does so because it is His nature to be merciful. God has never needed mercy, but He finds in Himself the need to show it because He is mercy. Oh that I would become thus. 8/25/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
“Charity sees the need, not the cause.” German Proverb
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Jesus
I am grateful that God helps me even when I am the main reason I need help in the first place. In light of this, it seems rather obvious that I should not withhold helping others until they deserve it. I am amazed that I actually have these thoughts. Let me be as gracious to others as God is gracious to me. Of course that is impossible in one sense. When I show mercy it is because I have been shown mercy. When God shows mercy, He does so because it is His nature to be merciful. God has never needed mercy, but He finds in Himself the need to show it because He is mercy. Oh that I would become thus. 8/25/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
I am grateful that God helps me even when I am the main reason I need help in the first place. In light of this, it seems rather obvious that I should not withhold helping others until they deserve it. I am amazed that I actually have these thoughts. Let me be as gracious to others as God is gracious to me. Of course that is impossible in one sense. When I show mercy it is because I have been shown mercy. When God shows mercy, He does so because it is His nature to be merciful. God has never needed mercy, but He finds in Himself the need to show it because He is mercy. Oh that I would become thus. 8/25/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, AL)
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no person can sincerely try to help another without helping themselves." - Emerson
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Jesus
How marvelous that God would weave into the fabric of the world the simple equation that to give is to receive. We might wonder if such a notion is ultimately self-serving but that is precisely the beauty of it. Jesus invites us to taste the pure returns of loving and serving--the absolute impossibility of bringing refreshment to others without it splashing over on us. But how is it “more blessed to give.” Because when we give we are not only blessed but become the source of blessing. He wants to make us into little versions of Himself and giving does precisely that. 8/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)
How marvelous that God would weave into the fabric of the world the simple equation that to give is to receive. We might wonder if such a notion is ultimately self-serving but that is precisely the beauty of it. Jesus invites us to taste the pure returns of loving and serving--the absolute impossibility of bringing refreshment to others without it splashing over on us. But how is it “more blessed to give.” Because when we give we are not only blessed but become the source of blessing. He wants to make us into little versions of Himself and giving does precisely that. 8/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)
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