THE WORK OF
OUR HANDS --

Psalm 112
~~~
The righteous will
be in everlasting
remembrance.
----Psalm 112:6
__________________

ONE reason we're left here on earth and not taken to heaven immediately after trusting in Christ for salvation is that God has work for us to do. "Man is immortal," Augustine said, "until his work is done."

The time of our death is not determined by anyone or anything here on earth. That decision is made in the councils of heaven. When we have done all that God has in mind for us to do, then and only then will He take us home--and not one second before. As Paul put it, "David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep" (Acts 13:36).

In the meantime, until God takes us home, there's plenty to do. "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day," Jesus said. "Night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). Night is coming when we will once for all close our eyes on this world, or our Lord will return to take us to be with Him. Each day brings that time a little closer.

As long as we have the light of day, we must work--not to conquer, acquire, accumulate, and retire, but to make visible the invisible Christ by touching people with His love. We can then be confident that our "labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).
~~~~~~~~~
If you rely upon God's strength
And live a life that's true,
Then what you do in Jesus' name
Will be His work through you. --
___________________________

IN GOD'S EYES, TRUE GREATNESS IS SERVING OTHERS.

Our Daily Bread
David Roper
Blessings, Abishag <><

WHO'S ON MY
GUEST LIST ?

~~~~~~~~
Luke 14:7-14
-----
When you give a
feast, invite the poor,
the maimed, the
lame, the blind. And
you will be blessed.
--LUKE 14:13-14

~~~~ONE day a prominent Pharisee invited Jesus into his home, probably for table fellowship, but possibly to watch Him closely so he could trap Him. While there, Jesus healed a man and taught the host a significant lesson: When making out your guest list for a dinner party, you should not be exclusive--inviting friends, relatives, rich neighbors, and those who can pay you back. Instead, you should be inclusive--inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Although such people would not be able to pay the host back, Jesus assured him that he would be blessed and that God would reward him (Luke 14:12-14).

Just as Jesus loves the less fortunate, He invites us to love them by opening our hearts and homes.

The poor and needy everywhere
Are objects of God's love and care,
But they will always know despair
Unless His love with them we share. --
---------------------------

OPENING OUR HEARTS AND HOMES
BLESSES BOTH US AND OTHERS.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag <>< JESUS IS LORD !!

GOD IS HERE ~~

Luke 4:16-21
---
[The LORD] heals
the brokenhearted
and binds up
their wounds.
--Psalm 147:3 --
------
LESLIE and her two daughters were about to be evicted from their home. Although Leslie believed that God could help, so far He hadn't given a clue as to how. She wondered, 'Where is God?' As she drove to the courthouse, she prayed for God's intervention. Then she heard a song on the radio proclaiming, "God is here! Let the brokenhearted rejoice." Could this be the assurance from God that she was longing to hear?

Inside the courtroom, Leslie stood before the judge, heard his decision, and signed the legal documents, but still God had not given her an answer.

As Leslie was walking to her car, a truck pulled up beside her. "Ma'am," said the driver, "I heard your testimony inside the courtroom, and I believe God wants me to help you." And he did. Gary helped Leslie get in contact with a woman from a local church who was able to work with the parties involved so that she and her girls could stay in their home.

When people ask, "Where is God?" the answer is, "Right here." One way God is at work is through Christians like Gary who are continuing the work Jesus started--healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds (Ps. 147:3). ~

God is here; He stands beside you.
God is here; He wants to guide you.
God is here and He will help you,
So do not fear--Your God is near. -D. De Haan
----------------
WHEN WE LOVE GOD, WE WILL SERVE PEOPLE.-

Our God is "omnipresent"= in all places at the same time. He uses His people to be His hands and feet... To reach out and help a hurting and needy people. You are NEVER alone.<><

Abishag, i like what you write!

However i'm not pious, never will be, but yours and Lynnmn's writings are great!
Beyond words really... Even you doo sitate the Bible, much of this is formulated by you personally, and you're doing it in a great way!

Food for thought, what you write.

Bless you!

TO THE RESCUE ~

Luke 15:1-7
~~~~~
There will be more joy
in heaven over one
sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine
just persons who
need no repentance.
--Luke 15:7
~~~~~~
MARTIE and I recently traveled to some major cities in several countries. We were struck with how lost our world is, and we grieved over the millions who have never heard the message of the saving grace of Jesus. The thought of reaching our world for Christ felt overwhelming.

Until I remembered the story of the boy walking on the beach. Encountering hundreds of starfish dying under the heat of the sun, he started throwing them back into the sea. A passerby asked, "Waht are you doing?" "Saving their lives," the boy replied. "Forget it," the man said. "You can't possibly save all these starfish." "Right," replied the boy, "but it makes a big difference to each one I "DO" save."

I love the boy's perspective. When the wave of sin threw us onto the shore to die, God sent His Son to rescue all who would repent. And, as Jesus told His listeners in Luke 15, each time someone is rescued, heaven throws a party. "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." (v.7).

Has heaven rejoiced over your rescue? If so, join the ranks of those who reach other lost souls with the rescuing grace of Jesus.

Your Love, O God, would spare no pain
To conquer death and win;
You sent Your only Son to die
To rescue us from sin.
~~~~~~~~
WHEN YOU'VE BEEN RESCUED
YOU'LL WANT TO RESCUE OTHERS.

ODB/JS
JESUS IS LORD! Be sure to tell someone today! He's coming back soon. 'Even so, Come Lord Jesus'. AMEN!

--TRUE
PROSPERITY ~

Mark 10:17-23
----
How hard it is for
those who have
riches to enter the
kingdom of God!
---Mark 10:23 --
~~~
A few years ago, the banking empire Citicorp ran a series of billboards about money: "Money changes hands--just be sure it doesn't change the rest of you!" and "If people say you're made of money, you should work on your personality!" These ads gave a refreshingly new perspective on riches.

God also has a surprising spin on wealth. From His perspective, you can be "well off" when it comes to worldly treasures and yet be in poverty in your soul. Or you can be poor in terms of earthside stuff and be rich by God's standards.

The distorting power of wealth reminds me of the story of the rich young ruler. After a discussion about eternal life, Jesus asked him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Unfortunately, the man "went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:22). This prompted Jesus' lesson to the disciples: "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (v.23).

It's not that Jesus is against wealth. It's just that He is grieved by anything that we value more than Him. We can work hard and make money, but when those things are the main pursuit of life, then Jesus isn't. Placing Him first in our lives is the key to 'true' prosperity. -
---------
Don't let riches--or the pursuit of riches---
derail your pursuit of Jesus.

ODB/JS

Laboring for God's Kingdom
By: Adrian Rogers

"... give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
--- Luke 6:38

America is recognized the world over for the productivity of its labor force. But the economic crisis of recent years... and that continues today... is a powerful reminder that not even great productivity can ensure national or personal wealth.

How long will it take us to learn that money doesn't deliver on its promises? Earthly treasures collapse! That's why Jesus warned us saying, "Don't store up treasures here on earth." It's because he knew that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

So if you want to have a heart for God, then put your treasure in him... give to the Kingdom. This is only way to secure your future in this life. "Give and it will be given to
you"-this is God's promise to you.

And when you make his kingdom your priority, you'll be amazed at how Jesus satisfies the longings of your soul. You'll understand that your identity is not in money and possessions... your self-worth is not tied to your net worth. Your security and worth is in Christ and Christ alone!

Take time to reevaluate where you are financially and spiritually. And remember: Earthly treasures disappear, but the Kingdom of God is eternal!

"GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU"-THIS IS
GOD'S PROMISE TO YOU.

-QUIET
ENCOURAGERS

-Acts 11:22-26
---
[He]encouraged
them all that with
purpose of heart
they should continue
with the Lord.
--Acts 11:23-
--
ONE of the qualities I most admire in others is the gift of quiet, behind-the-scenes encouragement. I remember arriving home from a stay in the hospital and finding that my friend Jackie (who had surgery a few days earlier) sent me a book of God's Promises.

My Uncle Bob was so thankful for the people who cared for him at the cancer center that he sent hundreds of complimentary notes to their work supervisors.

My cousin Brenda experienced the agonizing loss of a child almost 20 years ago, and now her quiet deeds of compassion are treasured by many.

Often it is the very people who have experienced the most suffering who are the most abundant providers of encouragement to others.

In Acts, we read about Barnabas, who was known as the "Son of Encouragement" (4:36). He was "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (11:24) and encouraged others so "that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (v.23). His acts of encouragenet must have had a wide and strong sphere of influence.

Just as we have been blessed with encouragement, let's be a modern-day Daughter or Son of Encouragement to others.

Teach me to love--this is my plea;
May all the Spirit's graces shine through me;
Tear from my heart all hate, foolish pride;
Help me to live like Christ the crucified.
---
-The human spirit rings with hope
at the sound of an encouraging word.

--ODB/CHK [Remember Me/ Mark Schultz]

-How to Respond to Defamation

"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)

Bible-believing Christians today, especially creationists, have become the object of intense vilification by the news media and by self-appointed spokesmen for the scientific and educational establishments. The natural reaction is to respond in kind.

But this is not the spiritual reaction. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:21-23).

We not only have Christ's example before us, but also His direct commandment. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. . . . Love your enemies, bless them that curse you" (Matthew 5:11, 44).

The apostles endured far more insults and opprobrium for Christ's sake than any of us shall ever have to suffer. Yet Paul, speaking for them all, could say in effect "Being reviled, we bless; being defamed, we entreat, even though they call us the filth of the world!"

We can trust the Lord to take care of our reputations, for He is more concerned even than we, and His Word tells us: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
--ICR/HMM

-OPENING
OUR HOMES~

-Acts 18:1-4
---
Because he was of
the same trade, he
stayed with them
and worked; for by
occupation they were
tentmakers.
--Acts 18:3
---
IN 'Outlive Your Life', Max Lucado writes: "Hospitality opens the door to uncommon community. It's no accident that hospitality and hospital come from the same Latin word, for they both lead to the same result: healing. When you open your door to someone, you are sending this message: 'You matter to me and to God.' You may think you are saying, 'Come over for a visit.' But what your guest hears is, 'I'm worth the effort.'"

This is what the apostle Paul must have heard and felt when Aquila and Priscilla opened the doors of their home to him. When he arrived in Corinth, he was probably exhausted from his journey from Athens. He may also have been discouraged because of his seemingly unsuccessful ministry there (Acts 17:16-34). He later wrote, "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling" (1 Cor. 2:3). Aquila and Priscilla probably met Paul in the marketplace of Corinth and opened their home to him. They provided a spiritual oasis through Christian hospitality.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be hospitable, to be a "hospital" that helps those who are going through life's storms and need restoration. We can be used by the Lord because He has provided for us.
---
-CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY IS AN OPEN HEART AND AN OPEN HOME.

--ODB/MW

-TAKE NOTICE

-Ruth 2:13-20
---
Blessed be the one
who took notice of
you. --Ruth 2:19
---
While standing in a checkout line, I was estimating my bill and trying to keep my son from wandering away. I barely noticed when the woman ahead of me shuffled toward the exit, leaving all of her items behind. The clerk confided that the woman didn't have enough money to pay her bill. I felt terrible; if only I had been aware of her situation earlier, I would have helped her.

In the book of Ruth, Boaz became aware of Ruth's plight when he saw her gleaning in his fields (2:5). He learned that she was recently widowed and was the breadwinner for herself and her mother-in-law. Boaz saw her need for protection, and warned his harvesters to leave her alone (v.9). He supplied her with extra food by instructing his workers to let grain fall purposely (v.16). Boaz even addressed Ruth's emotional needs by comforting her (vv.11-12). When Naomi heard about this, she said, "Blessed be the one who took notice of you" (v.19).

Are you aware of the needs of the people around you--in your church, neighborhood, or under your own roof? Today, consider how you might help bear someone's burden. Then you will be fulfilling God's plan for you (Galatians 6:2; Eph. 2:10).
-------
-GOD WORKS THROUGH US TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE AROUND US.

-ODB/JBS

-ALWAYS PUT CHRIST FIRST~

-SERVE WELL
-WITH JOY ~

-Psalm 100
---
Serve the LORD
with gladness.
--Psalm 100:2
---
Nine years ago today a good friend went out for a lunchtime jog and never came back. Kurt De Haan, who was the managing editor of Our Daily Bread, died of a heart attack on that sunny Thursday. Some of us who worked with Kurt still keep mementos of him in our offices.

For instance, on one wall of my cubicle, I display the last memo I received from Kurt. It reminds me of his thoroughness as an editor--striving to represent God's Word accurately and well. Another co-worker displays the last paper wad Kurt threw in her direction, reminding her of his eagerness to enjoy life.

Each time we talk about Kurt and how much we miss him, we discuss his combination of a quest for excellence mixed with an enjoyable personality. He worked hard and loved life. He strove to teach God's Word with integrity while living his life with joy.

Remembering Kurt and his example is refreshing and challenging. It reminds us that others are watching us and can tell if we're serving "the LORD with gladness" (Psm. 100:2), and if our love for Jesus is coming through in our good works (Eph. 2:10). Serve well. Serve with joy. Does that describe our work for the Savior?

Help me, dear Jesus, to live out the joy and
peace You've given to me. May those who work
with and know me see that joy. And may I
always stand for truth and righteousness. ~Amen
---
-FOR JOY THAT WILL LAST, ALWAYS PUT CHRIST FIRST.
--ODB/DB

-Our Eternal Rewards
-Read | Revelation 4:9-11 (Recommended Reading)

Throughout Scripture, we find references to "crowns." Let's take a look at these eternal rewards for a victorious Christian life and a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

*The Crown of Victory. To finish life well, believers need Olympic endurance. Athletes in those ancient games received a perishable circlet of laurel leaves. But when we are effective in our God-given ministry and triumph over sin, we'll be given an imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25-27).

*The Crown of Exultation. The believers that we had a hand in bringing to Christ will be "our glory and joy" before the Lord (1 Thess. 2:18-20). Just imagine how you will rejoice in heaven upon seeing and talking with the people who recognize your contribution to their spiritual development.

*The Crown of Righteousness. The Christian life is not easy, but there is great reward for living righteously when facing temptation or hardship. Believers who pursue godliness are always thinking about the life to come and striving to meet God with a pure conscience (2 Tim. 4:5-8).

*The Crown of Life. Heartache and pain are unavoidable in this life, but we can take heart because much spiritual growth happens in adversity. Hang in there to receive the crown of life that the Lord promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

In heaven, what will we do with the crowns we have earned? We will cast them before Jesus' feet (Rev. 4:10), laying them down as a tribute to the One who saved us, gifted us, equipped us, and lived in us. Everything good and right came to us through the Lord, so He deserves our crowns.

--In Touch

-AT RISK FOR
THE SAVIOR ~

-Philippians 2:25-30
---
Hold such men in
esteem; because for
the work of Christ he
came close to death.
--Philippians 2:29-30
----
During basic training, Desmond Doss irritated his drill instructor and fellow soldiers. A pacifist by conviction, he refused to carry a weapon into battle, and this made his peers doubt his courage. Trained as a medic, the young Christian had no qualms about facing combat. But his goal was to save lives.

Doubts about Doss would change, however, when his military unit faced combat. During the World War II Battle of Okinawa, he ducked under machine gun fine to pull the wounded to safety. He prayed, "Lord, give me the strength to save just one more wounded soldier." Eventually he lowered more than 70 injured men down a hill for further medical attention. For his efforts, he was awarded the Medal of Honor--the highest honor his country could bestow.

Scripture tells of another Christian who took great personal risks to help others. Of Epaphroditus, Paul wrote, "hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life" (Phil. 2:29-30).

Around the world today, mamy believers risk thier lives for the cause of Christ. Let's pray that our God will protect them as they serve Him under threatening circumstances.

'O Lord, listen to our cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness come to the relief of those who are in danger because of their faith. For Your name's sake, preserve their lives; in Your righteousness, bring them out of trouble. In Jesus' name we pray.'

--ODB/DF

-For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,
declares the LORD...
----Jeremiah 30:17

The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon grew up with a little brother who had a degenerative bone disease in his ankles and kept falling down. So Spurgeon’s father got angry at that little boy, and one day said to him, “If you keep falling down, I’m going to spank you with a rod!”

Several weeks later, the father was speaking to young Charles and said, “Ever since I threatened your little brother about a spanking, I haven’t seen him come in with dirty clothes from falling down.” Charles confessed, “Father, he’s been falling down. But every time he falls down I pick him up and clean him off.”

That’s what God does for you and me. He loves us so much that when we fall, He picks us up, cleans us off, and sends us away without spot or blemish. Yet many walk around today with downcast attitudes because of their failures. But the truth is that in God’s grace, not one of our sins is counted against us!

Maybe today, you’ve fallen down so many times and are ready to give up. But if you’ll trust fully in Christ for your forgiveness, you can be sure He’ll pick you up whenever you fall!

-TRUST FULLY THAT NO MATTER HOW YOU’VE FAILED, CHRIST WILL PICK YOU UP AND MAKE YOU NEW AGAIN!

--Naming Rights~
-Psalm 147:1-5

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." (Psalm 147:4)

"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:3)

~~I had hoped from the very beginning of the adoption process that my husband and I might be able to name the children who would become ours. I thought naming a child would make that little one feel more like "mine." But that privilege was to be for the birthparents. By God's providence, both mothers in different years had planned to choose names that turned out to be (or be close to) our last name. When they learned of our last name and that naming a child "Dane Daane" would never do, they laughed and invited us to join them in choosing different names.

Naming the babies was sweet, but by that time I had settled in my heart that God in His sovereignty had names chosen for those babies even before they were born. If I am really a believer in Jesus Christ, He has given me a new name too (Revelation 2:17).

My greater longing would be not to make sure my adopted children "feel like mine," and carry my name, but to seek with all my heart to follow after Christ so that together we would live for His name.
---
Jesus, the One who knows us, will give us a new name in glory, and we will know it. Our adoption by Him will be finalized!
--Haven Today

--What's Our Reponsibility to Our Planet?

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
--Genesis 1:26

-Several years ago, Newsweek magazine ran an article where they likened our planet to a spaceship traveling at unbelievable speeds. All the inhabitants of the earth are passengers on this spaceship. And our natural resources are the cargo. But the problem is that the passengers are destroying the cargo that’s necessary for life to continue in the ship!

One of the great issues of our time is the environment. And as Christians, we can’t remain silent on this issue because the Bible is not! Everything we have is from God. And as we’re taught clearly in the pages of the Scriptures, God’s blessings should be stewarded well – not haphazardly!

Now I realize there will never be a perfect solution to problems like the environment until Christ returns. The earth will continue to deteriorate. However, much like our response to sin in the world, we don’t use the inevitability of things getting worse as an excuse for inaction. We always fight for what’s right!

One day Jesus Christ will return and bring with Him a rebirth for our planet. But until that day, let’s be at the forefront of caring for creation and stewarding well the gift God has given us in planet earth!

-GOD HAS GIVEN YOU DOMINION OVER HIS EARTH. SO STEWARD IT WELL!

--Daily Word/JG

-SERVICE AND
-WITNESS ~~~

-2 Corinthians 4:1-12
---------
--We do not preach
ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord,
and ourselves your
bondservants for
Jesus' sake. ~~
--2 Corinthians 4:5-
---------
WHILE serving as a maid in London, England, in the early part of the 20th century, Gladys Aylward had other dreams. Her goal was to be a missionary to China. Having been rejected by a Christian missionary organization as "unqualified," Gladys decided to go there on her own. At the age of 28, she used her life savings to purchase a one-way ticket to Yangcheng, a remote village in China. There she established an inn for trade caravans where she shared Bible stories. Gladys served in other villages as well and became known as 'Ai-weh-deh' Chinese for "virtuous one".

The apostle Paul also spread the gospel to distant regions of the world. He extended himself as a servant to meet the needs of others (2 Cor. 11:16-29). He wrote this about serving: **"We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (4:5).

Not all of us are called to endure hardship to spread the Gospel in distant lands. But each of us is responsible as a servant of God to share Christ with people in our sphere of influence. It's our privilege to help our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Ask God for openings to serve and to talk about Jesus who gave Himself for us.
-------------
--WE SERVE GOD BY SHARING HIS WORD WITH OTHERS.=TRUST BY: Matt Hammitt
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maRMivc5vB4&feature=share&list=PLFEFAF335845FBC55>

---Filled And Fulfilled
---By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

In this precious prayer, Paul sought for the Colossian Christians the full knowledge of the will of God. For the Christians at Rome he prayed that they might be “filled with all joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13). For the Ephesians, he prayed that they “might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19), and then urged them to “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18). He wrote to the Philippians, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; . . . Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11). For the Colossians, he also prayed for their “full [same as ‘filled with’] assurance of understanding” (Colossians 2:2).

Together, all these prayer requests constitute an ideal description of a complete Christian—an ideal for which we should all strive and pray—both for ourselves and for others. Summarizing again, the list is as follows:

“Filled with all joy and peace in believing.”
“Filled with the fruits of righteousness.”
“Filled with the knowledge of His will.”
“Filled with the Spirit.”
“Filled with all the fulness of God.”
“Filled with assurance of understanding.”

It is also worth noting that the Greek word for “filled” is the same as for “fulfilled.” When a Christian is “filled” with all these wonderful realities, he becomes a “fulfillment,” as it were, of God’s purpose in creating and redeeming him. His ultimate goal, of course, is to measure up to “the fulness of Christ,” Himself (Ephesians 4:13). HMM

--HELPING EACH OTHER ~~

'[God] comforts us
...so that we can
comfort those in
any trouble.'
--(2 Corinthians 1:4)

--"THE BODY OF CHRIST" is a mysterious phrase used more than 30 times in the New Testament. The apostle Paul especially settled on that phrase as an image of the church. After Jesus ascended to heaven, He turned over His mission to flawed and bumbling men and women. He assumed the role of head of the church, leaving the tasks of arms, legs, ears, eyes, and voice to the erratic disciples--and to you and me.

Jesus's decision to operate as the invisible head of a large body with many parts means that He often relies on us to help one another cope during times of suffering. The apostle Paul must have had something like that in mind when he wrote these words: "[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (2 COR. 1:4-5).
And all through his ministry Paul put that principle into practice, taking up collections for famine victims, dispatching assistants to go to troubled areas, acknowledging believers' gifts as gifts from God Himself.

The phrase "the body of Christ" expresses well what we are called to do: to represent in flesh what Christ is like, especially to those in need.~~
--ODB/PY
[We also must remember to give all praise, honor, and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. As we worship Him, we glorify His Name. "The Lord inhabits the praises of His people."
"You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. We praise Your Name, O Sovereign One."]
--'Come Now is the Time to Worship' /OSLO (Meaning= Capital and County of Norway. Formerly called Kristiania)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DT4-2wfYpU>

--PASS IT ON~~


--"We will tell the
next generation the
praiseworthy deeds
of the LORD."
--(PSALM 78:4)~

--In a sense, Christians are in a relay race, carrying the baton of faith and the knowledge of the Lord and of His Word. And the Bible tells us about our need to pass this baton from one generation to another.

In Psalm 78, Asaph declares: "I will utter...things from of old--things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us...We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done" (VV. 2-4).

Moses said something similar to the Israelites: "Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them" (DEUT. 4:9).

For generations to come, we are called to lovingly and courageously do whatever we can to pass along "the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 PETER 2:9)~~

--WE INFLUENCE FUTURE GENERATIONS BY LIVING FOR CHRIST TODAY.~~

--ODB/LD~~"Something Out of Me" / Nichole Nordeman~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wOIRM4fy1c>
--------

----POWER OF TOUCH~~

--"Moved with compassion,
Jesus reached out and
touched him."
--(Mark 1:41)--

--EARLY IN HIS ministry, Jesus was approached by a man with leprosy, an ancient label for all types of infectious skin diseases. Because of his disease the man was required by the Old Testament law to live outside his community. If the sick man accidentally found himself in close proximity to healthy people, he had to call out, "Unclean! Unclean!" so they could avoid him (Leviticus 13: 45-46). As a result, the man may have gone months or years without human contact.

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. Jesus had the power and authority to heal people with just a word (Mark 2:11-12). But as Jesus encountered a man whose physical illness left him feeling isolated and rejected, His touch assured the man that he was not alone but accepted.

As God gives us opportunities, we can extend grace and show compassion with a gentle touch that conveys dignity and value. The simple, healing power of human touch goes a long way to remind hurting people of our care and concern. ~~

--"Lord Jesus, thank You for the personal way You reached out to care for hurting people. Help me to follow Your example and extend compassion. I want to be more like You, our Savior, Lord, Redeemer, and King above all kings." ~~amen

----CARING FOR OTHERS MAY INCLUDE A COMPASSIONATE TOUCH. REACH OUT IN JESUS NAME~~~

--ODB/LS--"None But Jesus"/ Hillsong ~~<https://youtu.be/R9qoqQ75ifs>
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