Relationship Advice

 

One of the world's best leaders said,

"You can't be successful if you do not have good relationships."

 

Amazing? - Yes.

 

Back in the Bible, John chapter five, verse eighteen,

it tells us Jesus was equal to His Father

when he said that God was His Father,

making Himself equal with God.

 

Relationships are of great value, even in today's society.

They'll bring out the best and the worst in us.

 

Jesus was showing us how to have a great relationship with others

when he healed a man sick for thirty-eight years.

 

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk."

 

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus now because he had broken the sabbath.

And also because Jesus had said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

In spite of all this, Jesus continued to show mercy and kindness.

 

Does Jesus want you and I to have great relationships?

 

Listen to the verse of scripture: Mathew 22:37:

 

Jesus said in His word:

 

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and your neighbor as thyself.

 

Let's keep loving, being kind, and trustworthy.

 

Blessed be the peace makers.

 

One of the greatest beatitudes in the Bible. Matthew Chapter 5 and verse 9.

 

Was John Maxwell right when he spoke these words?

I'll let you answer that.

 

One Teaspoon of Love

The other evening, while I was baking muffins, I didn't add any baking powder all because it wasn't written down in the new recipe.

 

Just one teaspoon of baking powder (something I always use), was all that I needed - one teaspoon.

 

Perhaps today, just one kind word, one kind act of interest in someone else, one smile, another visit, is all that's needed.

 

Let's take the time to add one more hug,

one more time, to help to encourage those who are fainthearted

and tempted to despair.

 

Jesus came to free us of sin.

Not to condemn us for our condition.

 

Isaiah said of the promised Messiah: 

 

"A bruised reed He will not break,

 and smoking flax he will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth."

 

Isaiah 42:3

 

Let Your Colors Show

 

My daughter Ruth took a picture of a red-winged black bird in flight.

It was a great photo that caught my eye.

Why? Because it's exceptionally vibrant colors of orange and white

 that can only be seen when its wings are open in flight.

 

Just as the red-winged black bird shows off its colors,

 we too can show the characteristics of Jesus

when we allow God's Spirit to direct out lives.

 

Humility, patience, cheerfulness, kindness, hope..the list goes on.

 

The Bible says:

Let your light shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father,

 who is in heaven.

Mathew 5:16

 

A Real Gem

 

Back a few years ago in 1962, when our first baby was born, I had to intervene in his birth. How?

 

"Bear down, push, push, the doctor was saying. Bear down and push when you have pains".

I said "I had pains back in the other room, but you weren't there".

Then I said, to myself, "If you're going to have the baby you'll have to pray for pains.

 

Well, I did just that - pray and listen; no just pray, don't stop.

Wow, what a job that was!

 

Stanley James was born a very healthy baby boy.

8 1/2 lbs. Though he only had a faint cry, it was enough for me.

 

What a good baby boy he was.

 

God had given us a real work of art.

 

Summer 2013

 

What a great week I had at camp this year with my daughter, grand-daughter, and a young boy from Africa and a mother with her two children!

 

The cabin we rented was more than enough, the water, well a little on the cool side.

 

The services were super and the meals were just what we all enjoyed. It was the warmth of all our friends that was I believe the best part of our week.

 

I loved getting out early in the morning, listening to the birds and walking by the lake.

The freshness of the early morning air can do us all so much good.

 Now- let's enjoy the rest of our summer and early fall!

 

Psalm 69:34