Love Is Seen In Our Actions.

Friends, all around us are hurting people who need our love and encouragement. Don't miss the miracle of the moment. Don't be too busy, or insensitive to the needs of those around you. Be willing to be inconvenienced. Be sensitive and pay attention to those around you, your friends, your coworkers and your relatives. Listen to what they're saying. We shouldn't miss opportunities to do good whenever situations come across our paths to bless people.

Jesus said. "When you do it to the least of one of these, it's like you're doing it unto Me," (see Matthew 25:40). Proverbs 19:17 says, "He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed." When you give to those in need, you are lending to God. And God knows how to pay you back–with interest! You may not be able to give money, but you can baby sit that single mom's children. Why don't you give her a break one night? Tell her, "You go do something special for yourself. Here's a gift certificate. You go up to the mall. You go get your nails done. Our family is going to keep your children tonight."

If you see one of your friends wearing the same clothes all the time, why don't you step up to the plate and say "Let me buy you a new suit or two." Or, "Take this gift certificate and go get yourself some new clothes."

Maybe you and your family go out to eat every Sunday after church. Why don't you take a single parent family along with you? Or better yet, be a mentor to one of those young children. That doesn't take a lot of money. It just takes time and love. That just takes somebody that cares, somebody that's willing to make a difference.

I heard a story about a young boy that lived in the inner city. He was about eight years old and was very poor. One cold day, he was looking in the window of a local store admiring a pair of tennis shoes. As he stood there, cold and barefooted, a lady came along and asked,

"Young man, what are you doing staring so intently in this window?"

Shyly he said, "Well, I was just sort of praying and asking God if He'd give me a new pair of tennis shoes."

Without hesitation, the lady took him into the store and very gently and lovingly washed off his cold dirty feet. She put a brand new pair of socks on his feet. Then she told him to pick out three new pairs of tennis shoes.

The boy couldn't believe it. He was so excited! He had never owned a new pair of shoes. He'd always just worn old hand–me–downs. After she had paid for the purchase, the woman handed the shoes to the child.

"Enjoy your shoes, son," she said.

The little boy looked at her in amazement. Nobody had ever taken that kind of interest in him.

As serious as could be, with tears running down his cheeks, he said,

"Lady can I ask you a question? Are you God's wife?"

Friend, you are never more like God than when you give. You're never more like God than when you take time for people, than when you do something to bless someone else.

And not just in the big things. Learn to be good to people in your everyday life. When you stop to get a cup of coffee at work, bring your coworker back a cup, too. When traffic backs up on the freeway, let that car into the lane in front of you. At the grocery store, when you have a bunch of groceries and somebody behind you has just a few, let them go ahead of you. Or how about in the parking lot, when you pull up to that last front row parking space at the same time as another car? Why don't you back up and let them have that space?

Do you want another simple way of blessing someone? When you're at a restaurant, be a good tipper. Don't leave that server a dollar bill when you just spent thirty dollars to eat.

"Well, I shared my testimony," one person said. "I invited our waitress to church."

That's fine, but don't cancel your testimony by your miserly tip. God's people believe in being good to people. We believe in showing God's kindness wherever we go.

When I tip people, I tell Victoria, "We're going to sow a seed into that person's life. Here's an opportunity to bless someone with our words and our money." When I leave that place, I want that server to be able to say, "That couple sure is generous. They are good to people."

Love is seen in our actions. This world does not need to hear another sermon nearly as much as it needs to see us being good to people.

Love Is Seen In Our Actions


Learn to give your time, your money, or an encouraging word. When you show love, you are showing God to the world. And don't worry if you don't get any credit. When you let somebody in traffic in front of you, you may never see that person again. When you give somebody twenty dollars because you had compassion in your heart, you may never hear back from them, but let me assure you, God is keeping the records. 

He's seen every time you've been good to somebody. He's heard every encouraging word you've spoken. God has seen all the times you went out of your way to help somebody but they never even said thank you. The Scripture says when you do things in secret, when you do things without getting any credit, when nobody thanks you, God sees it, and you will even receive a greater reward.

It's one thing to make a big splash and let everybody know how generous you are, but if you really want to be blessed, do something good for somebody and don't tell anybody about it. Leave some cash in an unmarked envelope on the desk of that coworker that's struggling to make ends meet. At the restaurant, buy somebody's dinner and remain anonymous. Clean up the kitchen at the office and don't tell anybody that you did it. When you do things in secret and you don't get any credit, you are sowing a seed for God to do great things in your life.

Or maybe you overhear one of your coworkers saying, "Next week I've got to take my car in the shop. I don't what I'm going to do. I don't know how I'm going to get to work." Why don't you tell her, "Let me swing by in the mornings and pick you up."

"Oh, no, that's too far," she may protest. "Its out of your way."

You can say, "It's no big deal. I'll be glad to do it."

Listen to what people are saying around you. And look for opportunities to bless them.

A while back I had a friend over to help me on a project. I had just bought a brand new computer monitor, one of those flat screens, real large, real easy to see. My friend said, "Joel, I love your monitor. It's so easy on our eyes."

I picked up on that. I said, "It sure is. What kind of monitor do you have?"

"Oh, just an old piece of junk that I've been using for years," he said.

I thought, "Here's a great opportunity to be a blessing".

A few days later, my friend had one of those new flat screen monitors show up on his doorstep. That was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I realize we can't do that all the time. We can't spend all our money like that. But we should be doing something good for somebody else.

Why don't you make a decision with me that you're going to start being good to people?

And remember, true love is always backed up with our actions. People are watching us, and one of the best witnesses we could have is simply by being good to people. If you'll get up every day and focus on how you can be a blessing and not just on how you can get blessed, God will meet your own needs as you meet others' needs. God will meet all your needs in abundance!

The Scripture says people will know true Christians by their fruit (see Matthew 7:15-23). They're not going to know us by how many scriptures we quote. They're not going to know us by how many Christian bumper stickers we have on our car. People are going to really know that we're believers when we're helping other people, meeting needs, doing good works, when we are blessing people with our words and our actions.

Passing the Test
 

“Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin!”  Hebrews 12:3-4

When you feel like giving up and you start to feel sorry for yourself, and you get discouraged and decide to have a pity party, stop and think about what Jesus endured for you.  Think about the attacks and the criticism he went through. Think about the abuse and cruelty he experienced not for his benefit, but for yours.

You may be facing some very real, discouraging challenges in your life. But what you are really going through is a test of your faith.

It’s easy to trust God when everything is going your way. It’s tough to trust him when you’ve been out of work for months, a year or longer. It’s tough to trust him when you don’t know where you will get the money to make ends meet. It’s tough to trust God when somebody you depended on has walked out of your life. But these are tests.

Will you endure? Will you persist? Will you make it to the end? Will you be disciplined? Will you finish well?   What are you being tested in right now? Are you going to give up, or are you going to persevere?  What have you started that you need to finish?  What commitments have you made that you need to complete? Whatever it is, you need to finish it. Trust God to help you through, so you can pass the test. You have it in you to do it.  Just continue to trust in Him, and you will be OK.

Always thank God for what you have, and always trust God for what you need.

Dare To Believe That All Things Are Possible

Have you ever wanted to do something but you just didn't have the courage? Are there things that you've longed to do but fear has held you back? Do you ever hear or read a promise from God's Word and say to yourself, “Someday that's going to be me”?

I believe we've all asked questions like this, but I want you to know that it's a new season. It's time for a fresh start. It's time to think differently and do things you've never done before. In fact…I dare you!

I dare you to believe God for the unthinkable…to believe His promises like never before. We can have confidence that EVERY WORD He's said is true. God wants to give you all of His “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4).

Everything in our relationship with God begins with believing. Believe today that God exists and that He has so much more in store for you! As you hear this, set your heart fully on the Lord and believe that He is the source of everything you need.

As we look at all that God wants to do, we invite you to join with us and help us share the message of God's unending love and favor to people around the world. Your support  makes this possible. Together, we can make this our greatest year!

Thank God for what you have.  Trust God for what you need.

The Best Financial Investment You Can Make
 
 
 “Tell  them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous  to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they  will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that  they may experience true life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT, second edition) 

God’s  Word tells us to store up our treasures  in Heaven (Matthew 6:20–21).

How can we do this? In one of his most misunderstood  statements, Jesus said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for  yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal  dwellings” (Luke 16:9 NIV).

Jesus did not mean for you to “buy” friends with  money. What he meant was that you should use the money God gives you to bring  people to Christ. They will then be friends for eternity who will welcome you  when you get to Heaven! It’s the best financial investment you’ll ever make.

You’ve probably heard the expression “You can’t take  it with you,” but the Bible says you can send it on ahead by investing in people  who are going there: “By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for  themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will  be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.” (1 Timothy 6:19 LB)

What are ways you can invest your money in other  people? What are ways you can invest your money in bringing people to Jesus?  Pray about this and see who or what God brings to mind. No matter how small,  make one investment in eternity this week.

Your actions will affirm your faith.

Declare Your Freedom

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“You have been set free from sin...”  (Romans 6:18, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD 
Today in America, we celebrate Independence Day. July 4, 1776 was the day America declared her independence, but the battle for freedom went on until 1783 — seven years later. Even though the people declared their freedom in 1776, they had to stand and fight for many years before the British would accept and recognized the United States of America.

In the same way, we have to declare our freedom and be determined to stand against the opposing forces in our lives. We have to declare our freedom from addiction, poverty, sickness and lack. We have to stand and fight until we fully experience His freedom and the peace that He has promised.

I love what the early colonists did once they signed the Declaration of Independence. They read it out loud in public. They published it in the newspaper. They spread the word. They continued to declare and celebrate even though they were in the midst of the battle.

Whatever battle you may be facing today, declare that you are free! Declare that you are an overcomer! Celebrate now because the victory you seek is on the way!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free in every area of my life. I declare today that nothing can hold me back. I declare that I am free from sickness, poverty, lack and addiction. I declare that You have set me free and thank You for freedom and discipline in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

When Life Overlooks You

One of the great stories in the Bible is about the life of David. Long before David defeated Goliath, long before he became the king of Israel, he spent his days out in the field looking after his father's sheep. His life wasn't the easiest. He had been overlooked by his father, criticized by his brothers, and regarded by many as just a shepherd boy.

One time, the prophet Samuel was sent by God to David's house. He was supposed to choose who would become the next king. Samuel asked to see all of the brothers in the house, but David's father was so certain that David wasn't a candidate for such a prominent position that he left him out working in the field! It wasn't until Samuel passed by all of the other seven brothers that David was finally called in and then anointed to be the future king of Israel.

But even after that, David's family didn't seem to treat him any differently. They may have even thought Samuel had made a mistake. In fact, while David's brothers spent their time serving in King Saul's army, a prestigious position of honor, David was still doing the grunt work out in the shepherd's fields. He was seen as an errand runner tasked with bringing lunch to his brothers, "the important ones."

One day while David was tending the flock, a hungry lion approached with every intention of dining on one of his sheep. Now we know from the Bible that David had a strong, abiding faith in God. He may have been young and inexperienced, and he may have been feeling fear when he saw the lion, but with God on his side, he overcame that lion.

On another day, a hungry bear approached also intending to make a meal of David's sheep. Once again, David put his faith in God, killed the bear and protected his flock. By the time David faced Goliath, he had already tapped into the strength and boldness that God had placed within him. David approached Goliath with confidence, knowing that with God on his side, he would surely have the victory! And he did!

Today, you may feel like an "errand runner" or that life has overlooked you. You've done your best, but maybe you haven't seen the results you anticipated. Or maybe you've been through some disappointments and now you're tempted to think, Oh what's the use? I'll never get out of this situation. I'll never accomplish my dreams. But don't believe those lies! God hasn't overlooked you; in fact, He holds your future in the palm of His mighty hand.

Have confidence today because God has called you and chosen you. You are handpicked by Him, and He is ordering your steps. When you go through setbacks or when people leave you out, remember, God is working behind the scenes. He'll take what the enemy meant for harm in your life and turn it around for your good when all is said and done. Today, stay in faith, and keep moving forward one step at a time because you are chosen and equipped to overcome every obstacle in this life!

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit… (John 15:16, NIV).

Thank God for what you have.  Trust God for what you need.