When I got up this morning, the first thing that came to mind was a song my dad use to sing to us, "Baby, it's cold outside." Cold and I do not get along but it does help some of us get into the "spirit" of the holidays that will soon be here. For me, another song comes to mind: "Put another log on the fire" and that is what has been happening around our house all morning.In spite of the cold, I love the Season of Christmas."
For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved." This is one of the most precious verses in the Bible. It tells us the simple story, the simple truth that God loves us. God loves the whole world, not just Americans, not just Jews, not just Protestants, but the whole world.
I remember being at Ridgecrest, NC many years ago at a National WMU Week Conference and Dr. Keith Parks spoke. Dr. Parks at the time was the President of the Foreign Mission Board. He and his wife had served as missionaries. When he told his dad that they were going to a foreign country, his dad did what most of us would do and asked "are you sure this is what you should do?" Dr. Parks replied, "Dad, God is as close to Africa as He is to Nashville, Tenn."
Sometimes as Americans with our freedoms, we forget how much God loves the entire world. I have heard many times that we should first take care of home and yes I do believe that we should take care of home but we have an equal responsibility to see that people all over the world have a chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This morning I did something that might seem strange to some but for me it was a perfectly normal thing for a type A, compulsive personality to do. The garland on my Christmas tree was not quite right so with all the ornaments in place and lights on the tree, I re-strung the garland so that I would have it more close to perfection. I decorate our tree every year as a gesture of love for my family. Yes, it did take a little extra care so I did not break any ornaments and it was a little harder but it was also worth the effort. As I was doing this, I could not help but think that if I go to so much trouble to let my family know that I love the, then why do I not do more to show others around me how much I love them. Why am I not more thoughtful and considerate of others? Why am I so willing to do for those I know but those I don't know, I tend to back off? Why does my heart not ache when I see the homeless or children on television in foreign lands and even in America who have no families and live in orphanages? I can make a lot of human excuses for myself and I cannot speak for anybody else but I pray that God will prick my heart and make me more aware of the needs of others and help me know those He wants me to help.
God has a plan for mankind. He had a plan when He created the world and we are a part of that plan. He has always wanted a people who would love Him above all else and they would show that love for Him by the way we treat Him through obedience and loving others. I definitely want to be more obedient and pray that I will always find a way to
Share God's Love,
Peggy
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