Every day, I probably pass by hundreds of people.
Hundreds of souls.
How many of those are saved? How many know God?
How many are lost, and live empty lives?
Do I really care?
These people that I see everyday are important. Everyone I meet today is special to God. How can I ignore one of God's precious children? He loves them and cares about every little thing going on in their lives. How can I not care about someone's life? They are each important.
Life-and-death important.
What makes the difference? It all comes down to love.
"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love." (1 Cor. 13:1-7, The Message)
This chapter is one that we hear a lot. Many can probably quote it without thinking. Seeing it this way, though, makes it fresh and new and real. Without love we are bankrupt! We can't advance God's kingdom without love. We are hypocrites without love. We refuse to share what God has given us. We have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power.
People aren't being reached if we don't love.
Souls are going to hell because we don't love.
Eternally.
Separated from God, the only source of all that is good in our world.
Refusal to love is inexcusable.
I have no excuse to be antisocial. Every soul is more important than almost any reason I have to ignore people. So look them in the eye. Smile. Talk to them. Show sympathy. Listen. Show them God's love.
Then even if you are never able to physically tell them about Christ, your life has been a witness. You have not stood by and watched a soul go to hell because you did nothing. God will use you, in ways you may never know. Just let Him.
Love.
Rebecca
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Encouragement For Singles
I recently came across this video, and I love it!
The speaker delivers some wisdom about waiting, and it is so encouraging to hear her description of qualities her future husband will have, and qualities she is working on having to become the kind of wife he will need.
This next song always encourages me when I am thinking about my future husband (if it is God's will for me to marry).
I really like the Civil Wars, and this is my favorite song of theirs. It reflects the thoughts of a lot of single people, wondering what their future spouse will be like.
I hope this might encourage you if you find yourself thinking about your future spouse anytime soon,
Rebecca
The speaker delivers some wisdom about waiting, and it is so encouraging to hear her description of qualities her future husband will have, and qualities she is working on having to become the kind of wife he will need.
This next song always encourages me when I am thinking about my future husband (if it is God's will for me to marry).
I really like the Civil Wars, and this is my favorite song of theirs. It reflects the thoughts of a lot of single people, wondering what their future spouse will be like.
I hope this might encourage you if you find yourself thinking about your future spouse anytime soon,
Rebecca
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Be careful what you wish for...
...in a good way.
First of all, I'd like to apologize if you've found some of my previous posts depressing. I intend for this blog to be a place where I can be honest about what's going on in my life, and the past month and a half or so was characterized by struggles, but also by growth. I'll elaborate on this later.
I spent a lot of time since the post "Forgiveness: A Letter to a Friend." asking God to help me continue to forgive the person I wrote about in that post. I came across a book I have called "What Are You Waiting For?" by Dannah Gresh. It is an excellent book about sexual purity, but the lesson I learned from it this time was a completely different one. Long story short, I realized that I had a tie of hurt connecting me to that person. So I prayed for God to heal the hurt and break that tie.
A few days later, God appointed for me to see this person from a distance. It's so hard to describe, but all of the hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness that I had just melted away. I was finally able to forgive and turn it over to God. I was able to acknowledge that even if the person never spoke to me again, I would be okay.
The next day, I ended up seeing the person and spending a lot of time with them. It was the first time in a very long time that the way this person acted did not affect my mood, and I have no doubt that it was a God thing. I was able to come away from that time feeling truly glad that I had been able to spend time with them, and hopeful that the two of us could really be friends again.
I am praising and thanking God for this, and it has made me SO much more lighthearted now that I don't have to worry about this anymore. This is just one more example of God answering the prayers of His children and working in their lives. How people can make it through life believing that God doesn't exist when He is at work all around us is something I don't understand.
Rebecca
First of all, I'd like to apologize if you've found some of my previous posts depressing. I intend for this blog to be a place where I can be honest about what's going on in my life, and the past month and a half or so was characterized by struggles, but also by growth. I'll elaborate on this later.
I spent a lot of time since the post "Forgiveness: A Letter to a Friend." asking God to help me continue to forgive the person I wrote about in that post. I came across a book I have called "What Are You Waiting For?" by Dannah Gresh. It is an excellent book about sexual purity, but the lesson I learned from it this time was a completely different one. Long story short, I realized that I had a tie of hurt connecting me to that person. So I prayed for God to heal the hurt and break that tie.
A few days later, God appointed for me to see this person from a distance. It's so hard to describe, but all of the hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness that I had just melted away. I was finally able to forgive and turn it over to God. I was able to acknowledge that even if the person never spoke to me again, I would be okay.
The next day, I ended up seeing the person and spending a lot of time with them. It was the first time in a very long time that the way this person acted did not affect my mood, and I have no doubt that it was a God thing. I was able to come away from that time feeling truly glad that I had been able to spend time with them, and hopeful that the two of us could really be friends again.
I am praising and thanking God for this, and it has made me SO much more lighthearted now that I don't have to worry about this anymore. This is just one more example of God answering the prayers of His children and working in their lives. How people can make it through life believing that God doesn't exist when He is at work all around us is something I don't understand.
Rebecca
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