What Great Love

 

Even knowing what was about to happen…

 

“AND ON THE NIGHT HE WAS

betrayed

HE BROKE BREAD AND LIFTED IT UP AND

gave thanks.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

 

 

LIVING

He loved me

DYING

He saved me

BURIED

He carried my sins far away

RISING

He justified; freely, forever

ONE DAY HE’S COMING,

Oh, glorious day!

~ John Wilbur Chapman

 

 

And in response to this great love, may our lives show evidence of a faith and relationship with Jesus that makes a difference in the ways we choose to trust, worship, speak, treat people, forgive, minister, and live in obedience.

 

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

 

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Caring and Creative Solutions

 

Julia Brown has been a middle school teacher for 15 years.  A few weeks ago, she placed an “I Need” wrapped box, with a slit cut out of the top, in the front of her classroom.  If a student had a need, they were to write it down on an index card and leave it in the box.  The first week, two boys let Ms. Brown know about a bullying situation.  It was able to be remedied.  Realizing few students wanted to risk being seen placing a card in the box, Julia had every student turn in a card every day on their way out of class.  If they did not have a need, it was OK to leave the card blank.  And the requests for help increased.  From seat changes, supply needs, bullying situations, special handshakes and greetings at the door, the needs were expressed.  Eventually, Ms. Brown realized that because of the trust level, students were bypassing the box and simply coming straight to her with their requests.

Jenny’s seven-year-old daughter came home from school expressing her dislike for her classmates.  That night, as she was tucking her little girl in bed, she asked her, “What was going on that caused your heart to hurt so much?”  With tears streaming down her face, she told her mom that her best friend only wanted to play with another girl and that her other classmates did not want to play with her either.  Jenny knew it was time to introduce the ”Kind Can.”  Remembering back to when she was eight, Jenny’s mother had done the same for her.  The school year was off to a bad start.  Friendships had changed, she did not like her teacher, and she couldn’t seem to get along with others.  Thus, she did not enjoy going to school.  That’s when Jenny’s mom came up with the idea for the “Kind Can.”  She used a large, empty coffee can.  The name of each of her classmates was added to the can.  Each morning, before leaving for school, Jenny would draw a name out of the can.  The challenge was to do a kind deed for that person, without expecting anything in return.  It was hard at first.  Jenny and her mom spent time talking about different ways she could express kindness.  As the weeks went by, Jenny, once again, loved going to school.  Jenny’s daughter thought this would be a fun and great idea, too.  “A Kind Can.  A way to create more kindness.  A way to keep our hearts open even when they want to close.”

 

May we too look for caring and creative solutions to help bring about goodness, kindness, help, and an open heart.

 

 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3

 

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 3:8

It's About the Heart

 

Almay Belton is a teenager who lives in High Point, North Carolina.  Even though she depends on a wheelchair for transportation, being independent is a priority.  It is usually smooth going, except for the times leaving or entering her house, due to the steps.  Every day, her father, Anthony Belton, helps Almay down the steps to catch the school bus and then back up the steps after school.  Anthony stated, “Well it was kind of hard mostly on her, because basically she’s going up and down the steps, so basically constantly bumping and dumping down the steps, and you see her jumping and jumping.  Then at the same time it’s hard on me, dealing with my back and I’m getting older, not younger.”  One day Joe Hill drove up, parked his huge truck in front of their house, and knocked on the front door.  Owner of Premier Waterproofing, he had been working in the area when he noticed the bus stop incident.   Hill asked if he could come and build a ramp for the family and it wouldn’t cost them anything.  On Monday morning, Hill and a crew showed up and built the ramp.  The reward was Almay’s smile and delight when she could roll up and down the ramp by herself.  Hill replied, “I saw a need, and I knew I could take care of it, and it went from there.”

Justice Smith and his 5-year-old son, Justus, were walking home from the dentist when they noticed a homeless man.  Smith realized he didn’t have any cash on him so he nodded his head and waved to the man.  As if reading his mind, Justus told his dad he wanted to give the man all the money in his pocket.  Justice knew 30 cents wouldn’t make much difference, plus he didn’t want to insult the man.  He almost told his son not to give the change.  “My own pride and thoughts of the homeless individual’s unknown reaction to receiving just two coins were standing in the way.  I thought to myself ‘Dude get over it.  This is what we’ve been teaching him and now that he wants to give everything he has to offer in this moment, you’re going to let your personal self-centeredness ruin a possibly life-long, great memory and solid teaching moment?’”  He didn’t want his son to think that being prideful was more important than helping someone.  Speaking to the man first, Justice explained that he didn’t have any cash on him, but that his son wanted to give him all the money he had with him.  Smith commented, “The only thing that matched the brightness of that stranger’s smile after that moment was the bigger smile on our ‘baby’ boy’s face!!  Our little boy, without even realizing it, reminded me once again by his actions that it’s always about the heart.  It doesn’t matter how much you have or how little; giving in love and sincerity will often bless others more than we think.”

 

May we, too, put aside pride and self-centeredness to do our part to bless those around us.

 

 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

 

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:21