Throughout Scripture, Jesus is a consistent example of the definition of compassion.
Webster describes it as "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." When studying this topic in preparation for today's blog entry, I noted that while synonyms of compassion are "sympathy" and "feeling," antonyms are "hard-heartedness" and "callousness."
Forming harsh opinions and saying hurtful things about a person's situation when you have never personally gone through their struggles is just one example of a hardened heart. It's easy to do. You get wrapped up in your own life, you get "tired of hearing about it," and it's hard to see things from other perspectives. But, in love, I want to say that this is not of Jesus. His heart, His life... it compels us towards a compassionate spirit.
What does compassion look like? Compassion looks like Jesus. It looks like the King bowing before His disciples to wash their feet, symbolic of the importance of service and servanthood. It looks like Jesus healing the sick, setting an example for us to do everything in our power to care for those that we are able to help ("Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion towards them, and He healed the sick." Matthew 14:14). It looks like Jesus, loving the adulterous woman through her sin, rather than judging her (John 8:3-11). It looks like a Father, sending His only Son to die so that we can have life.
If Jesus Christ, the wonderful, all powerful, merciful Father and Creator has set this example for us, and could endure all the hurt that He did on our behalf, why is it so hard for us to show compassion on others?
Accept this challenge with me, dear friends, to continue working towards a Heart Like His.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."
1 Peter 3:8
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
A Heart Like His: Being Intentional
Hi, friends! Grab a cup of coffee with your favorite creamer and let's talk about being intentional. It's been on my mind for a while now and I just want to touch on a few things.
There have been a few people in my life who have taught me about being intentional at different times, always seeming to show up right when I need to be reminded of the importance of it.
Sarah, my Bible Study leader my last year of college, was one person who taught me a lot about being intentional. Watching the way she invested her time, energy and talents into each of the girls in our little group challenged me to be more like that.
Zhanna, another incredibly influential woman in my life, has also taught me a lot about what it really means to be intentional. Working alongside her at AAA has opened my eyes to the art of building relationships, and intentionally making a difference in people's lives.
"Hey, how are you today?"
"I'm fine, thanks. How are you?"
"Good!"
How many times a day do you have this meaningless conversation? Are you really doing fine? Do you genuinely care about how the person you're speaking with is doing?
Lets accept the challenge together to foster relationships and to intentionally make lifelong investments in people's lives.
I think you'll be surprised what blessings come from making this conscious choice every day.
There have been a few people in my life who have taught me about being intentional at different times, always seeming to show up right when I need to be reminded of the importance of it.
Sarah, my Bible Study leader my last year of college, was one person who taught me a lot about being intentional. Watching the way she invested her time, energy and talents into each of the girls in our little group challenged me to be more like that.
Zhanna, another incredibly influential woman in my life, has also taught me a lot about what it really means to be intentional. Working alongside her at AAA has opened my eyes to the art of building relationships, and intentionally making a difference in people's lives.
"Hey, how are you today?"
"I'm fine, thanks. How are you?"
"Good!"
How many times a day do you have this meaningless conversation? Are you really doing fine? Do you genuinely care about how the person you're speaking with is doing?
Lets accept the challenge together to foster relationships and to intentionally make lifelong investments in people's lives.
I think you'll be surprised what blessings come from making this conscious choice every day.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
A Heart Like His: Contentment
I am so humbled by all the support and encouragement I have received after beginning this new series! Wow! In continuation of this study of a Heart Like His, my topic today is contentment.
I want to begin by saying that there is nothing wrong with striving for success, in fact, I think most of us don't dream quite big enough. Being a "dreamer," as some would call it, is a good thing, and, when in the center of God's will, can bring wonderful successes and blessings. However, God's timing doesn't always make sense to us. It's easy to get ahead of God, and even when we have good intentions, not listening to His voice can lead to heartache.
After my first mission trip to Haiti, I wanted to drop out of college. I hated going to classes that I thought I'd never need, I couldn't even think about what I wanted to "be when I grew up," and I felt trapped. To say I was discontent would be an understatement... and I had two whole years left (which seemed like a lifetime). How could I possibly stay in that little town going through the motions of what every 20 year old is "supposed" to do when I knew what needed to be done in other parts of the world? I knew my potential to change lives by sharing Jesus with them. I knew of specific needs that I could help meet. I knew of sweet little girls who just needed to feel loved, who needed someone like me to wrap my arms around them and encourage them. I wanted to be back there more than anything. But I wasn't in Haiti and I couldn't be.
That's when Jesus first began speaking to my heart about contentment. I learned that you can only find true peace and contentment through Him. I started asking Him daily to use me where I was, to make me fall in love again with the little town that I had wanted to live in my entire life, and to provide me with contentment where I was until I got to where I wanted to be, and He transformed my heart and attitude, breathing into me a new zest for life. He added to my passion for missions by giving me a passion for the present. He didn't crush my dreams of serving Him, He didn't say "no;" He said "wait."
So, for two years, that's exactly what I've done. Now, only 21 days stand between my heart's desire to take the love of Jesus to the Haitian people and boarding the plane. Jesus' timing is perfect. Accept this challenge with me, friends, to rest in the contentment that only He can give, to trust Him fully. For me, this is a daily struggle, something that I have to ask Him for each and every day. Together, through Him, we can find joy and contentment where we are right now, having learned from the past and looking forward to the future.
I want to begin by saying that there is nothing wrong with striving for success, in fact, I think most of us don't dream quite big enough. Being a "dreamer," as some would call it, is a good thing, and, when in the center of God's will, can bring wonderful successes and blessings. However, God's timing doesn't always make sense to us. It's easy to get ahead of God, and even when we have good intentions, not listening to His voice can lead to heartache.
After my first mission trip to Haiti, I wanted to drop out of college. I hated going to classes that I thought I'd never need, I couldn't even think about what I wanted to "be when I grew up," and I felt trapped. To say I was discontent would be an understatement... and I had two whole years left (which seemed like a lifetime). How could I possibly stay in that little town going through the motions of what every 20 year old is "supposed" to do when I knew what needed to be done in other parts of the world? I knew my potential to change lives by sharing Jesus with them. I knew of specific needs that I could help meet. I knew of sweet little girls who just needed to feel loved, who needed someone like me to wrap my arms around them and encourage them. I wanted to be back there more than anything. But I wasn't in Haiti and I couldn't be.
That's when Jesus first began speaking to my heart about contentment. I learned that you can only find true peace and contentment through Him. I started asking Him daily to use me where I was, to make me fall in love again with the little town that I had wanted to live in my entire life, and to provide me with contentment where I was until I got to where I wanted to be, and He transformed my heart and attitude, breathing into me a new zest for life. He added to my passion for missions by giving me a passion for the present. He didn't crush my dreams of serving Him, He didn't say "no;" He said "wait."
So, for two years, that's exactly what I've done. Now, only 21 days stand between my heart's desire to take the love of Jesus to the Haitian people and boarding the plane. Jesus' timing is perfect. Accept this challenge with me, friends, to rest in the contentment that only He can give, to trust Him fully. For me, this is a daily struggle, something that I have to ask Him for each and every day. Together, through Him, we can find joy and contentment where we are right now, having learned from the past and looking forward to the future.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
A Heart Like His: Learning to Forgive
Hi friends! Today, I am introducing a series of topics that have been impressing on my heart for weeks. This will be the beginning of a multi-part series that I will post in many different blog entries, covering one topic at a time. Bear with me as I strive to allow Jesus to speak through me and share my heart with you in love.
Each topic centers around the idea of having a Heart Like His. Join with me, friends, as we pursue the ultimate goal of becoming more like Jesus each and every day together.
Today, I will talk about unforgiveness.
Throughout the years, I have dealt with more unforgiveness than I could ever convey. Forgiving someone who continues to hurt you is hard. Each and every time I got to the point that I felt like I was finally ready to forgive, they hurt me again. My father, for example, used me as a tool to hurt my mother for years, holding tuition payments and doctor bills over my head and forcing me to go to his house (he had partial custody of me) only to make me sit in a casino daycare for hours at a time. My struggle to forgive him has been a long road, and led to the bitterness that unforgiveness always brings.
Although this is not the only instance of unforgiveness I've struggled with, it has certainly been the most prominent in my 22 years of life so far. Being unable to forgive him also created a cycle or pattern of unforgiveness in other areas of life. Whether being unable to forgive myself or others, there was a time that I experienced an unhealthy amount of unforgiveness that led me to really look inward and examine my own heart.
As a Christian, I know that unforgiveness is not of Jesus. So often, I feel that "religion" teaches us about rules and legalistic regulations, rather than a relationship with Him, which hinders us from truly studying the heart of our Savior. When we study His heart, we are able to develop a stronger desire to be like Him. When I think of Jesus giving His life for me, when I think of Him forgiving me of every sin and washing me clean, making me whole, and giving me new life, I am so ashamed of my unforgiveness.
Although it's sometimes hard to recognize the arrogance associated with unforgiveness, refusing to forgive someone is essentially saying that we are better than God. We are called to be like Him.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Will you accept this challenge with me? Lets work towards restoration, towards forgiveness. Lets work towards a Heart Like His.
Each topic centers around the idea of having a Heart Like His. Join with me, friends, as we pursue the ultimate goal of becoming more like Jesus each and every day together.
Today, I will talk about unforgiveness.
Throughout the years, I have dealt with more unforgiveness than I could ever convey. Forgiving someone who continues to hurt you is hard. Each and every time I got to the point that I felt like I was finally ready to forgive, they hurt me again. My father, for example, used me as a tool to hurt my mother for years, holding tuition payments and doctor bills over my head and forcing me to go to his house (he had partial custody of me) only to make me sit in a casino daycare for hours at a time. My struggle to forgive him has been a long road, and led to the bitterness that unforgiveness always brings.
Although this is not the only instance of unforgiveness I've struggled with, it has certainly been the most prominent in my 22 years of life so far. Being unable to forgive him also created a cycle or pattern of unforgiveness in other areas of life. Whether being unable to forgive myself or others, there was a time that I experienced an unhealthy amount of unforgiveness that led me to really look inward and examine my own heart.
As a Christian, I know that unforgiveness is not of Jesus. So often, I feel that "religion" teaches us about rules and legalistic regulations, rather than a relationship with Him, which hinders us from truly studying the heart of our Savior. When we study His heart, we are able to develop a stronger desire to be like Him. When I think of Jesus giving His life for me, when I think of Him forgiving me of every sin and washing me clean, making me whole, and giving me new life, I am so ashamed of my unforgiveness.
Although it's sometimes hard to recognize the arrogance associated with unforgiveness, refusing to forgive someone is essentially saying that we are better than God. We are called to be like Him.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Will you accept this challenge with me? Lets work towards restoration, towards forgiveness. Lets work towards a Heart Like His.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
I am Yours
Happy Thursday, friends! Do you ever hear a song on the radio that's an oldie but a goodie, and it just speaks to you in a profound way? This song is my heart, my prayer, my praise. I just wanted to share these words with you today:
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you told me who I am
I am Yours
I am Yours, I am Yours
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours
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