Archive for the ‘ Hands and feet ’ Category
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
1 Peter 4:10, ESV
We could say “blessed to bless,” but it goes deeper. If you have opportunity, serve others and share the Gospel, even out of meager offerings and skill.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, ESV
Have you been crucified with Christ? Is your life all about the One who loved you and gave His life for you?
As a Christian, we are called to show and share that love and sacrifice with this world. (Not just pastors!)
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16, NASB
God gives us stuff to do good and help others, to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ and those who are suffering and in need. All to His glory.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14, ESV
Christ was and is our ultimate example. We are to be humble servants to God by serving others, even when it seems silly, uncomfortable, and demeaning.
It is love. Get over yourself. Love them.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3, ESV
Do not think of how you will benefit when helping others. Remember, you are serving Christ Himself with each act of kindness, help, and generosity.
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 3:18, NASB
It is not enough to point out sin and correction.
It is not enough to offer platitudes and comments.
We must be WITH people, helping, soothing, and encouraging, without neglecting the sin, the gospel, and nice words.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22, ESV
Be kind to others, lifting each other up.
Encourage others, bring a shoulder or an arm to help.
Share the Lord, showing His joy and healing.
Change your understanding and find wisdom at Proverbial Thought!
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2, ESV
you me
Let us change, and
(written with Kendra Page)
Let us change the world,
you and me,
with the help of God
for His Glory.
Let us change a life,
you and me,
by sharing His Love
with somebody.
Let us change our hearts,
you and me,
and focus back on the One
Who set us free
Let us change our thoughts,
you and me,
and rid them of anger, lust,
envy and greed.
Let us change our actions,
you and me,
by standing strong for God,
not being lazy.
Let us change our minds,
you and me,
by realizing God
is all we need.
Get over to Proverbial Thought for Chris’s wise commentary on Proverbs 28:9!
This is the third week of my favorite Christmas carols. I started with one of my original favorites, The Little Drummer Boy, and last week I looked at a more recent favorite, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
This week, I continue with the theme of bells, but it comes from an unlikely place.
Silver Bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you’ll hear.
Chorus:
Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing.
Soon it will be Christmas day.
Strings of street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch.
This is Santa’s big scene.
And above all this bustle you’ll hear.
(Chorus)
The video above comes from The Lemon Drop Kid, a movie (yes, black and white) from 1951 with Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. It is a fun little movie about a gambler and crook who decides to go straight.
There is some debate over the actual inspiration of the song, but I prefer to go with the story that it was inspired by the Santa Clauses and Salvation Army people ringing bells for donations.
It reminds me that we are to help others out of our abundance.
Now, it is all well and good to do something for goodness’ sake, but …
The real reason we should help people is out of the love and compassion given to us by our resurrected Lord and Savior.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, NIV
Christmas reminds us of this, because God showed His love through the most unlikely of acts.
He was born as a human baby and laid in a feeding trough. The Creator of everything was born into squalor.
And too often we stop with the birth.
Yet the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, reminds us that He came to save us from our sin and rebellion. His birth reminds us that we must be born again. His birth reminds us that we must show the same love and compassion He shows, and we must take that love and compassion to others.
That is why Silver Bells is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Though a secular song through and through, it reminds me that God has given us all a purpose: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
In truth, this means we care for all people whenever we are able.
a simple man of God 