Tag: compassion

They’re Coming Home

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imageDo you ever get mad at people who:

Waste your time
Make you late
Dump on you
Ignore you
Embarrass you
Manipulate you
Steal from you
Are undependable
Lie about you
Leave you for someone your opposite

Well, do you? Do you get angry, or is yours a righteous indignation?

Would YOUR treatment of a brother or sister have anything to do with why they left home?

How do you feel when a close friend or family member treats you like any one of those things listed? Do you lose your cool? Do you give them a piece of your mind, or the whole thing?

Do you offend easily?

How long do you hold a grudge? How many grudges can you hang on to? Seventy times seven?

Do the “prodigals” (your classification) you know ever have a chance of reconnecting with you and your work? If so, what test do you have them take to show you they’ve truly repented?

Can YOU pass your own test?

Do you love people because they do exactly what you expect, or do you tolerate others giving and doing less than what you expect from yourself?

When someone turns their back on you and your beliefs, do you wait for them to return? How long do you keep their room like they left it?

Do you EXPECT them to come back home? Why would they want to?

Maybe you are hoping Father will let YOU have what your brother or sister left behind.

I am SO glad Jesus told us how the Father God is. He’s forever watching, waiting, and interceding for each person who steps away from the kingdom. He EVER LIVES to make intercession for us all; whether we’re a prodigal or the perfect saint.

The Lord would have us:
Watch with Him for the returning prodigals

Greet those returning from their self-imposed exile as if their slate is clean

Help keep the roadsigns pointing back to home in plain view. Make sure no weeds are allowed to grow and block the view of the sign.

Keep your heart filled with everything necessary to aid a weary traveler.

Don’t expect perfection from the returning prodigal. It’s not a prerequisite for forgiveness.

Keep your eyes on your Father’s eyes. That way you’ll be able to tell when someone’s getting close.

Practice love. Practice makes perfect. Perfect love casts out fear.
Fear yields to God’s faithfulness.

The Love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit helps bridge the gap between Father and the wayward son or daughter.

Don’t let the Angels in Heaven praise God more than you do.

And make sure you keep the car gassed up in case Father God sends you on a journey; the journey of reconciliation.

Remember, Father is stirring up and shaking everything shakeable. This includes those deemed “prodigal”. Keep your focus, your faith, and your friendly, faith inspiring demeanor. You’ll be used by the Ruler of the Universe to help move a brother or sister back home.

And, just maybe, there may be something you need to do or say before anyone would ever consider coming back home.

Amen.

I believe the Lord spoke this to my heart:

“As the Lord worked many signs and wonders in Egypt before they released their captives, so shall the Lord dominate the prodigal’s captor; the one who enticed and enslaved your brothers and sisters from the far country.

“And as the Lord caused the return of the remnant from Babylon during Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, so shall the kingdom receive a great multitude returning from land of wasteful living.

“They shall return. Watch for them. Be part of the restoration process.

“The rewards shall be great.”

Does The Word “Repent” Scare You?

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I am amazed. All these years I assumed a certain thing was true, only to finally realize I was wrong. And all I needed to do was read the scripture as though I’d never read it before.

I’m referring to Jonah. You know, the book called Jonah? Yeah, the big fish dude.

I’ll tell you what I just noticed in a few moments, but first I’ll lay the foundation for this post.

What do you think of when you see the word: “repent”?

Oh, man! You probably think I’ve flipped, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

What thoughts run through your mind at the sound of that word? Do you have flashbacks from childhood days? Do scenes of a wild, red faced preacher running back and forth across the platform at church play across your mind; making you want to hide under a table?

Does the word “repent” scare you? Actually, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Repent and believe the Gospel”. A courageous message of compassion and hope; not one of doom, judgment, and catastrophe.

It’s the message Noah proclaimed, being a preacher of righteousness.

The prophets of old cried, “Repent!” The powerful word God used to call nations to his feet; the place of hope, fulfilled purpose, and renewed vision.

A word that satan fears; almost as much as the Name of Jesus.

It’s a word that demands an immediate response; though many times the response is heartbreaking. It’s a command that leaves no room for negotiation. It’s a message declaring, “There’s still time to turn around”, but it’s been misunderstood, misused, and misjudged.

Repent.

It’s the message of John the Baptist, which drew multitudes away from their cities, homes and places of business, out into the hot, windy wilderness.

The word Peter preached in power to multitudes on the day of Pentecost, whereby thousands were ushered into the kingdom of God.

The ministry Jesus said was his Father’s business.

And the message of Jonah.

The word means to turn around. Change one’s attitude, action, and allegiance. What’s so scary about that? Why is that threatening? What’s really wrong with the word?

Repent.

It’s a message whose time has come. A declaration America desperately needs to hear, but one it hates to face.

The ones who dare proclaim it are dubbed fanatical and foolish. God calls them faithful.

All of Heaven supports this message of compassion and hope. The Spirit is wooing and the angels are waiting for our response to the word “repent.”

It can cause a riot to break out, or righteousness to flow like a mighty stream.

It separates the believer from the unbeliever, the Christian from the casual observer.

It’s a matter of life and death.

Jonah (finally) preached to the people of Nineveh.

“So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.” (Jonah 3:5 NKJV) In other words, they repented.

From the greatest to the least. From those with the most to those with nothing.

Here’s what I “saw” for the first time: THEN word about what was happening throughout the city came to the ears of the king. And HE repented!

For years I assumed the king heard first, then issued his proclamation. But, actually, he found out FROM the people.

There is hope for America. There is hope for our families. There is hope for you and I.

Repent is a word of compassion and hope. It’s a word with a future. It is a word for everyone, not just the people we don’t agree with. It’s a word whose time has come; from the greatest to the least. It’s a private, personal word that can affect the whole of society.

You may like the word, or you may hate it. You can lash out at the messenger or look into the mirror and examine what you see. Regardless, the word won’t allow you to remain the same.

Repent. Jonah carried the word to that great city. It changed Nineveh.

What word are you carrying? What word are you believing?

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15 ESV)

Don’t be scared. Repent.

Illegal Immigration

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20131104-063642.jpgWell, here I am again; realizing the need to change my opinion about something. It’s something that not only has political and social ramifications, but spiritual ones, as well. An issue that seems to draw people to one of two ideological camps.

A real hot button for our times.

Illegal immigration.

Now, mind you, I am not advocating for illegal anything; but the immigrants are here. What should we do?

What would Jesus do? Which group would He be drawn to? Would He be a “right-winger” or a “left-winger”? Conservative or liberal?

I understand there’s an economical issue here. No need to discuss the obvious. But there is also a HUGE spiritual issue to consider.

What can I do, what must I do, to help the “illegals” God so dearly loves?

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

How much help can I give someone if I disdain them, rather than love them? If I treat them as if they don’t belong ANYWHERE, let alone MY country, how will they witness the love God has for them? If I judge them harshly for invading MY space, what kind of spirit am I really yielding to?

Does the Kingdom of God operate in subjection to the laws of a particular country?

If people are in the country “legally”, does it mean God can “legally” love them? If my memory serves me correctly, God loved ME while I belonged to a different kingdom. In fact, it was His love and goodness toward me that brought me to my senses, to my knees, and into His glorious family.

What I think of people will help determine the manner in which I help them.

Consider this, please. What if the Church, the Body of Believers, the Body of Christ, put their energies and resources together to carry God’s love to the millions of “illegals”? Instead of complaining about all the extra mouths America has to feed, how about we ask God to multiply the fish and bread?

Could it be God is sending the “illegals” to us for a bigger reason than temporal opportunity and freedom?

I realize this little blog will not change a lot of opinions about this subject. I also understand there’ll be some who wonder if I’ve lost my salvation, thinking like this. No, I believe I’m growing more in my understanding of my Father’s heart.

A question to consider: are YOU a person on the LEFT or RIGHT?

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 NLT)

Final thoughts: were the “settlers” of Jamestown legal or illegal? Was Christopher Columbus’ group legal or illegal?

a simple reminder…

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A New Day

We may struggle remembering things such as names, dates, assignments, and the like. But God has given everyone a way to NEVER FORGET the important things.

Just a simple reminder. As simple as the dawning of a new day.

Each time the sun rises in the east, signifying the beginning of a new day, let that ordinary event remind you of God’s extraordinary promises!

See the rising sun as a simple reminder of “NEW”:

Covenant – 2 Cor. 3:6
Creation – 2 Cor. 5:17
Freedom – 2 Cor. 3:17
Mind – Rom. 12:1,2
Provision – Matt. 6:11
Power – Acts 1:8
Things – Isa. 43:19
Comforter – John 14:26
Coming of the Lord – 2 Pet. 3:12
Heaven and Earth – Rev. 21

and also Lam. 3:22,23
Compassion
Hope
Mercy
Faithfulness
Living

Just God’s simple way of saying to us, “If I can make the sun rise each and every day, please know you can trust Me to help with the small things.”

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