The Proverbial Sunrise – Compassion – Just Stirred?

Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise is challenging us this month with the topic of compassion. We are quick to share our thoughts on God’s great compassion for us and how we know to show this compassion to others so they will see the love of Christ in us.

We know this...

I know this...

Now I am asking myself...do I show this compassion or do I just think compassionate thoughts...

or not?

Oh, it’s mission Sunday...asking for more money...don’t they know I have enough bills to pay of my own...my small amount won’t really help much anyway...

There’s that soup kitchen man asking for volunteers again...I just have way too much to do next week...there is no way I can go spend half the day working over there...maybe I can donate a couple of cans of food and get him off my back...

Not the nursing home...it has a funny smell and is so depressing...the old people say the same things over and over again...I can’t understand half of what they say anyway...I just do better at dealing with people my own age...

Prison ministry...are you kidding me...there is no way I am going to go sit in jail with a bunch of women who have done Lord knows what...I’ll just turn my eyes aside so she won’t see me...if we don’t make eye contact, I’ll be alright...

The words to this song have been in my head this week:

Stirred But Not Changed

Often times my heart has been stirred,

By the things that I have heard,

About so many who have never heard God's word,

And though tears would fill my eyes,

All to soon I'd realize,

Though my hearts been stirred, my life has not been
changed.

Have I heard it for so long that He’s just another
song?

Has the story lost its thrill that I once knew?

Lord, give me a burden that’s so strong,

That it will last when my tears are gone.

I’m tired of what I’ve been... Lord, make me over
again.

I’m so tired of being stirred about the lost who
need to hear.

I’m so tired of being stirred that His coming is so near;

I’m so tired of being stirred till I cry bitter tears.

I’m so tired of
being stirred but not being changed.”

But this time Lord change me, let the work begin
just now,

This time Lord change me, please change me some how,

This time Lord change me, let my life be rearranged,

I'm so tired of being stirred but
not being changed.

I'm so tired of being stirred but not being
changed.

by: Lanny Wolfe

While we are on the subject of compassion, please visit Peggy, who daily shows compassion to those around her. For her 500th blog post, she has a challenge to gather 500 Christian bloggers from all around the world. Won't you join her?

The Proverbial Sunrise - Compassion

At The Proverbial Sunrise, the theme for October is compassion. Please visit Amanda and share what compassion means to you.

Every child of God is aware of the deep compassion of our Father towards us that resulted in Him sacrificing His only Son for our redemption. We, in our sinful state, unworthy to even be given a second glance, received such great mercy that our human minds can not even fathom it all.

The dictionary defines compassion as:

A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune,

accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Deep awareness of the suffering of another

coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Now if the words in white were removed, we would have the definitions of pity or sympathy. But by adding the passion of removing the affliction or suffering, we have what the Lord is...

COMPASSION

or COMplete PASSION

Complete Passion for saving us from our sins

Complete Passion for giving us eternal life

Complete Passion for a life of abundant love, hope, and peace

So the next time satan gives you an invitation to a pity party,

RSVP with...

Declined...because of the Complete Passion of Christ!

The Proverbial Sunrise – From the Heart

Where is the heart of your home?

Is it in the kitchen around the family table or in stools pulled towards a bar or counter?

Is it in the family room or den, relaxing on couches, chairs , or stretched out on the floor?

Maybe it’s in a bedroom, where tranquility reigns and easy conversation flows effortlessly while stretched across a familiar quilt?

Wherever this heart may be in your home, it is the place where people can come together and feel love, hope, and security. It is where joy can be shared, problems solved, and heartaches comforted. It is HOME...

The heart of our physical bodies is the place where we feel love, hope and security, but it can also harbor feelings of distrust, bitterness, and hate. It can bring forth good things or it can release bad things.

When Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18, he ended the story with a very important point.

“Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:32-35 NIV

Sometimes we tend to forgive with our head and our lips...but not from our heart. That center of our life blood...where love grows and hate hides...the heart of our very being...

When forgiveness only comes from the head, our earthly reasoning sets in and starts analyzing the person or situation to death, and it becomes impossible to truly forgive. We try to “fix” people and convince ourselves we have the answer for everything. Our heart hardens...

Forgiveness from the heart comes from a place that runs deep...a place that has been broken into pieces so that unconditional love flows freely...a place where the Saviour has placed His healing hands and covered with His precious blood.

The heart is the place where Jesus wants our forgiveness to come from...just as our Heavenly Father gifts us with divine grace and forgiveness, after all we have done...so should we extend forgiveness to others.

Heavenly Father, In your Son’s name, we thank you for forgiveness. Your unconditional love that runs so wide and so deep...let it flow into our broken hearts and fill all the cracks...soften the hard edges until it seeps into the very center of our hearts...so we can be vessels of Your love that spill over onto everyone we meet...let that overflowing love show true mercy so our hearts will be filled with forgiveness for others.

Please visit Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to be inspired and touched by reading more about forgiveness.

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness in Jesus’ Name

Amanda has chosen the theme of forgiveness for September’s Proverbial Sunrise. Please listen to this song about sweet forgiveness and then visit Sweet Blessings at her website here...

If you're lost, no where to go,
If you're sure somewhere you've lost your soul;
If you're hurt or you've caused pain,
There's a way to become whole again.

In Jesus’ name you'll find sweet forgiveness;
In Jesus’ name there's peace and love and rest;
And in His hands that healed the sick and wounded,
You can finally leave behind your grief and shame in Jesus’ name.

If you ship has not come in,
There's a way that you can sail again.
If you doubt you can be saved,
Talk to One who gave His life away.

If your time is almost up,
He is asking you to take his cup;
If your heart is breaking down,
Come to Jesus, do it now!

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness…and Weeds

Do you despise weeds as much as I do?

Nasty little things...popping up overnight in a nicely trimmed Bermuda lawn...standing tall and drawing attention to themselves...the beauty of the grass is often overlooked because of the aggravating weeds...

When I am slow to forgive someone, those nasty little weeds of unforgiveness spring up out of seemingly nowhere...my unforgiving nature draws attention away from the Christian light that is supposed to be shining...the beauty of Christ in me is overlooked because of the weeds of unforgiveness....

As I attack the weeds in my yard, I make sure as the weed is pulled out of the ground, the root is taken as well...so no more weeds (from that spot at least) will grow again....

Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask that you weed the garden of my heart...please pull out any weeds of unforgiveness...roots and all...so my heart may be pure and shine forth the love of my Saviour to others...remind me of Your most divine forgiveness You have given me...so many times...so I will be quicker about forgiving others...

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

Mark 11:25 AMP

Please visit Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to read more about this month’s topic of Forgiveness.

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness

September’s theme for The Proverbial Sunrise is the “Forgiveness” attribute of God. Be sure to visit Amanda and share your thoughts on this topic.

Forgiveness is such an important factor in our relationship with the Lord. Faith tells me that I am forgiven or I can allow doubt to come in and question that forgiveness.

God’s forgiveness is so different than man’s forgiveness...

Man’s forgiveness says...

“Why of course, I forgive you”...but I will never forget...

God’s forgiveness says...

“Why of course, I forgive you...it will be remembered no more...”

Man’s forgiveness...

“I know she is sorry about what she did...and I have not brought it up in a long time”...but just let her cross me again...and...well...she just may need to be reminded of what she has already done...

God’s forgiveness...

“My child, as far as the east is from the west, is how far I have removed your sins.”

Man...

“I know he said he forgave me and he hasn’t ever mentioned it again, but I still can’t help but feel that the thought is just hiding at the back of his head and one day it will explode and that will be the end of it.”

God...

“Daughter, your sins are covered by my Son’s precious blood. His sacrifice made atonement for all and you are set free! So if the Son sets you free, you are free in deed!”

But if we confess our sins to God,

he can always be trusted to

forgive us and take our sins away.

1 John 1:9 CEV

The Proverbial Sunrise - Living Hope

This is such a beautiful scripture about our living hope! I love this version from The Message…

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
1 Peter 1:3 MSG

Please join Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to share in our hope!

The Proverbial Sunrise - Real Hope

Yesterday and part of today, I was offline because of a glitch with my blog. Not having much time to mess with it all, I submitted my problem to the Blogger Help Forums and waited for a response. I HOPED that it would straighten itself out and I HOPED I would not have to start over from scratch.

Everything was up and running smoothly (kind of) this morning so my HOPES were fulfilled and not dashed upon the rocks. But really...would I have gotten upset if technology failed to rally itself and my blog had disappeared? Probably...for a moment at least...but then common sense would have prevailed and life would go on...

I HOPED for so many things about my blog last night, but I had no way of knowing whether my HOPE was going to be rewarded and the changes come to pass or whether my HOPE in Blogger was misplaced and futile.

Yes, I had HOPE but then there is REAL HOPE...

Heavenly
Opportunity for
Peace
Everlasting

Peace comes from WHERE one’s HOPE is placed and in WHOM...

Hope with assurance of the end results...
Hope with the confidence in the One that never fails...
Hope with the blessed promise of eternal life with my Saviour...
Hope that leaves no doubt as to where I will be when I leave this body...

REAL HOPE

BLESSED HOPE

THE ONLY TRUE HOPE

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and
constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3 AMP

Please join Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise for more messages of Hope...

The Proverbial Sunrise - My Hope

When Amanda first listed the August theme of "HOPE" for The Proverbial Sunrise, this old song immediately came to mind....

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
by Edward Mote

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Proverbial Sunrise – The Perfect Flower

The morning mist smelled clean and refreshing. With my "to do" list scrolling in the back of my head, I barely noticed the morning as I rushed through the watering, nipping, and tidying of my flowers and plants. Sometimes I wonder...

Is it worth the trouble to have flower beds and hanging pots?

They are always changing, always needing maintenance and never the same two days in a row...

Between drought conditions, snacking rabbits, mysterious diseases, aggravating bugs that can strip a frond overnight, and sometimes just a brown thumb, plants can be a headache.

But...

While standing at the kitchen window, I can look outside and see hummingbirds and butterflies going about their daily motions...

I stroll around the yard after a quick summer shower and notice colors bursting with so much glory that it is evidence enough that man did not create them...

A granddaughter comes to visit and looks for inchworms in the marigolds and chases after butterflies with a child's innocence and laughter...

Flowers are so worth the trouble...

There is another Flower

The most beautiful

Forever blooming

Never fading

Always the same

Never Changing...

This Flower believed I was worth the trouble to tend to all these years, and water, and watch grow...

There were times when diseases struck,

And when I refused to be watered,

And bugs came and ate away at my foliage...

Stripping away everything that had started to bloom...

But the Master Gardener and His Perfect Rose

Faithfully and patiently looked after me...

Always caring...

Never giving up...

I am so thankful for the Unchanging Rose of Sharon and how I can be a part of His garden...brown thumb and all...

Please join Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to read about our Unchangeable God...

The Proverbial Sunrise – God’s Unchanging Hand

Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise has been reminding us this month about the steadfastness of the Lord. An old hymn came to mind this week as I was contemplating what to share.

God's Unchanging Hand

Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Refrain:

Hold to God's unchanging hand,

Hold to God's unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Trust in Him who will not leave you,

Whatsoever years may bring,

If by earthly friends forsaken

Still more closely to Him cling.

Covet not this world's vain riches

That so rapidly decay,

Seek to gain the heavenly treasures,

They will never pass away.

When your journey is completed,

If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in glory

Your enraptured soul will view.

You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, Your right hand is soaring high.

Psalm 89:13 AMP

The Proverbial Sunrise – Absolutely Unchangeable!

Many thanks to Amanda for hosting the Tuesday Proverbial Sunrise! While reflecting this week on the theme "Unchangeable," the word ABSOLUTE kept entering my mind.

In a world full of so many variables and uncertainties, the one ABSOLUTE we can depend on is the LORD...every magnificent attribute of God that has been revealed to us in the past, is apparent today and will be shown again tomorrow.

The dictionary defines ABSOLUTE as:

Loosed from any limitation or condition; unrestricted; unconditional

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
Job 11:7 NIV

We know time, health, resources, and many other things can change the stability of our relationships and make them ever changing and unpredictable, but nothing can separate us from the love of God...we may change our paths and go another way, but the Lord remains steadfast, secure, and waiting...

Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Samuel 22:31 NIV

We try to fill the empty places in our lives with people, things, money, food, busyness, etc. We may feel a partial fullness for a moment, but as these things change, the hole is empty again and even enlarged as we search for that perfect Absolute that does not change. We cannot be complete until we allow the only Perfect One to enter in to our hearts.

Without comparison with other objects; viewed apart from modifying influences

"Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?"

Psalm 71:19 NLT

There will always be a bigger, better, brighter, newer, stronger, or longer lasting THING that comes along...and we are satisfied for a season until the next new THING appears. True peace and deep contentment will only come from One who was, and is, and is to come...the same yesterday, today, and forever...

Absolutely Unchangeable!

"Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens."

Psalm 89:2 NLT

Do I love Him?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

The Proverbial Sunrise – Blessings at Hand

Please join Amanda over at The Proverbial Sunrise today to be inspired with writings about one attribute of our great God...

His unchangeable nature...

Some people look at the God of the Bible and say they can't relate to Him because the Word speaks of many miracles and magnificent manifestations of His power that are not for this day and time. They say, "That doesn't happen today."

I beg to differ...

Now we may not go to battle against a flesh and blood giant, but even small troubles that come all at once can reach heights even Goliath would not be able to touch with his fingertips. A dear bloggy friend posted about some giants she was facing in her life. She said...

"Things that stress me out and make me fret can be giants if I let them. In fact, they could even "eat me alive." I choose to refuse to let the giants win. Thankfully, that is all that my Savior requires. A statement of faith - He takes care of the rest, as long as I fully trust in Him."

Can I get an amen for this faith filled sling?!

A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

Psalm 34:19 NIV

Another friend is facing some big decisions in her life and is seeking wisdom and guidance from the Lord. She shared that she was...

"so thankful that God can just get it all over with in a matter of minutes sometimes...even if you have pondered and thought, and weighed, and prayed for a while about something."

She may not hear the answer in a burning bush, or hear an angel proclaim from a written scroll, or hear a clap of thunder but she is promised she WILL HEAR.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Yet another sister was battling discouragement as she wrote how resentment and disappointments were causing her to not fully trust God with everything in her life. She made the choice to tell the enemy his attacks were lost, glorify God in her struggles and then ask for forgiveness for stubbornness and self-centeredness. She asked to be filled with His fire again and proclaimed victory by glorifying Him with a song of praise.

This child of God marched with the Lord around her own Jericho and blew her trumpet of praise and the walls of depression and oppression came tumbling down. Victory was won!

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Our God is unchangeable, so we may know that the promises and blessings recorded in the Bible are still being experienced by His people today.

Unchangeable - The Proverbial Sunrise

When I first read this month's topic of "Unchangeable" for "The Proverbial Sunrise" meme, I immediately thought of the song, "You Are God Alone." My church choir sings this and it always blesses me to think of the sovereignty of God and how He is the one constant in this changing world. The lyrics say:

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what You are...

You know, so many things in life are constantly changing...

The weather...

The flowers in the garden...

Lifestyles and customs...

Music...

Churches...

Health and jobs...

Our likes and dislikes...

Family and friends...

How reassuring is it to know our Lord does not change!

Always loving...

Ever merciful...

Forever faithful...

The beginning and end...

Our Redeemer...

The Good Shepherd...

I Great I AM...

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us
from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes
or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:17 NLT

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58.11 NIV

Please visit Amanda to be encouraged and uplifted in your walk with the Lord.