November 2002

Life Abundant Scripture Focus: John 10:7-10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd” (John 10:10-11).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------To have life to the full is to have it abundantly, the word used in some translations of the Bible. It is only when we walk with Jesus that we really begin to live, to have a superabundance of life. So why should we settle for less, when Jesus as our Good Shepherd offers us a full life? In Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son, in Luke 15, the young man had taken his inheritance, and exercising his newly-found freedom, had left home in search of happiness. His money and friends were soon gone, and he was starving. “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'“ (Luke 15:16-17) How often we have sought a good life in the wrong places, while our Heavenly Father waits to give us abundant life. Have you found that full life Jesus promises? Or are you still searching? INSIGHT: To give ourselves to Jesus and to walk with Him is the way to abundant life. Why should anyone want to settle for less?

Grace Scripture Focus: John 1:15-18 “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A woman I knew years ago was addicted to alcohol. She tried hard to stay away from bars, but her resolve usually crumbled after a very short time of sobriety. Her Christian friends prayed for and with her, suggesting that she could find strength through Christ. She prayed, trying to accept His forgiveness, but her response was, “I'm not good enough to be a Christian.” It took years before she could understand and accept the truth that none of us is “good” enough. It's only through God's marvelous grace that we have His forgiveness. We could

never in a million years earn or deserve His gracious love. When my friend finally learned that truth, she was able to trust God and let Him change her life. When Holy Communion is served at church, my first thought is that I can't possibly presume to be worthy to partake! Then I remind myself that Christ gave His life that I might have eternal life, not because I have earned it, but because, in spite of my unworthiness, He loves me that much. INSIGHT: God's grace! It's a very important blessing of abundant life. We have it, whether we know it nor not!

Mercy Scripture Focus: Matthew 18:23-25 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21) In answer to Peter, Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant in today's Bible reading. Jesus did not mention the word “justice” in his story, but He did talk about “pity.” The servant who owed the king an enormous amount of money begged for patience. He needed more time to come up with what he owed. But the king was more than patient; he had pity on his servant. In his mercy, he canceled the debt completely. This same servant showed no mercy at all to the man who owed him a small debt. He demanded that the debt be paid in full. How soon we tend to forget God's mercy to us! Like the servant in Jesus' parable, we sometimes beg for mercy for ourselves but demand justice from others. Jesus gave us a different way - His way, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). INSIGHT: As recipients of God's mercy, He enables us to extend that same mercy to others.

Strength Scripture Focus: Psalm 46:1-7 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2).

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I simply did not have the strength to go on. I was ready to sit down on a packing box and let loose the tears of frustration and fatigue. My husband and I were moving to a retirement community. With so many difficult decisions, as well as physical work, both of us had just about reached our limit. Silently, I began to tell the Lord how tired and defeated I felt and how much I needed His strength - as if He didn't know such things. Then I could almost picture Him shaking His head, saying, “All you have to do is ask.” When we trusted God for the strength we needed, it came - partly in a renewal of our energy, and more in the loving, capable help of our family. God tells us, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). INSIGHT: God is ready to renew our strength. Why should we struggle on our own, when all we need to do is ask?

Guidance Scripture Focus: Psalm 25:1-9 “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------On a Sunday afternoon as we sat on the deck of our daughter’s house, we were entertained by our great-grandson. An active toddler, he was not content to play in the safe area where his toys had been placed. Trying to outwit his mother, he kept straying to the steps where he could escape and be out of sight in a matter of seconds. But his mother always interrupted his flight to freedom, taking his hand and leading him back where she wanted him to be. In reality, had he been allowed to ramble, we would have soon heard him calling out to his mom for help. In our relationship with God, we want to do things our way. Even when we ask for His guidance, we tend to lay out our own plan for what we want to do. Yet if our way doesn't work out right, which is usually the case, we are then ready to call out for His help. Fortunately for us, God is always there, ready to take our hand and guide us His way - the right way, the way that is best for us. INSIGHT: God's guidance is available for us. Why not take His hand and let Him lead us in His way - the right way?

Wisdom Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 3:7-14 “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. . . . So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:7,9).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------God came to Solomon in the still of the night in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (v. 5). Solomon, a 20-year-old, had become king after his father David. Now, he likened himself to a little child, because he didn't know how to do the job with which he had been entrusted. He asked God for wisdom (a discerning heart) to rule the people properly. God was pleased with Solomon’s prayer. Why? Because he desired to be good rather than great, and to serve God's honor more than to advance his own. God not only gave him wisdom to exceed that which had ever been or would be, but also gave him the things he hadn't even asked for - riches and honor. God says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault” (James 1:5). If we truly want to serve God's honor, rather than advance our own, His wisdom is available to us for the asking. INSIGHT: Wisdom can impact every aspect of living. It is one of the greatest blessings of abundant life, and it's ours for the asking.

Recognizing God's Love Scripture Focus: 1 John 4:8-12 “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” (John 3:16).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------It is not only when we accept God's offer of His love - He has loved us from the very beginning. He loves the most unlovable person you know, as much as the most caring and devoted Christian. He loves the one who refuses to acknowledge His existence, and grieves over that person's unhappiness.

But it is when we accept God’s offer of abundant life that we are able to recognize His unconditional love. Only then are we able to even begin to love Him in return. We can never love Him enough to deserve the way He loved us when we were not even aware of it and certainly did not deserve it. Fortunately for us, He doesn't exact such an impossible price from us. God knows and understands our limits; He knows us better than we know ourselves. St. Augustine said long ago, “God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love.” That's an awesome concept, indeed. INSIGHT: Think about it! As insignificant as we may be to others, we're important to God. He loves us just as we are.

Love for God Scripture Focus: Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied: `”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment’” (Matthew 22:37-38).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A teacher of the law had asked Jesus, “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?” Jesus responded with the verse for today. He followed it with these words, “The second is like it: `love your neighbor as yourself.''' There is no commandment greater than these. Jesus made it clear that to keep His commandments, we must truly love others. We read, “If anyone says, `I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). How we love others, whether they’re lovable or not, is evidence of how much we love God. We know that God loves the unlovable and wants to change their lives. If I concentrate on praying for others and try to see them through God's eyes, it will be hard not to begin to love them. I might not like their actions, but I will want each one to experience the happiness that only God can bring. INSIGHT: We can see only the outside of a person, but God sees the heart, and loves that one unconditionally. He can fill our hearts with His love.

Loving Support Scripture Focus: Exodus 17:9-13 “When Moses' hands grew tired . . . Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset” (Exodus 17:12).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, Joshua chose men to fight while Moses stood on the hill with the staff of God in his hand. But he could stand only so long with his arms raised without tiring. When he lowered his arms, the Amalekites began to win. So, Aaron and Hur put a stone under him, allowing him to sit, and they held up his arms. What a support group Joshua had as he led his men in battle! When we accept abundant life from God, we have that same quality of support. After dark recently in our retirement community, an announcement came over the intercom asking all of us to turn on the front and back outside lights and look around. A six-year-old visitor was missing. You can imagine the reaction of several hundred grandparents. People were out all over the complex calling her name. In minutes, she was found safe and sound. That expression of loving concern isn't unusual. God's people support each other in times of need in any way we can. INSIGHT: How blessed we are to have the support of our Christian friends, and what a joy to “hold up the arms” of others who may be in need of help!

Love for Enemies Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus was citing the oldest law in the world - an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Ancient ethics were based on this law of “tit for tat.” It was used to exact just penalties for crimes. Jesus reversed that law and gave us a new way of responding to wrongs against us. Instead of retaliating, Jesus calls us to follow what we call “The Golden Rule.” “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (7:12). The Scripture does not say, “Treat others as they treat you.” That might be easier, and there's a human tendency to follow that thinking. That's why we hear about road rage and shootings, even among youth today. But it’s the opposite of what Jesus taught. He set the example for us as He hung on the cross and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The abundant life Jesus offers enables us to love even our enemies.

INSIGHT: We know how we want to be treated. Do we truly desire the same for others? Even those who hurt us?

Answered Prayer Scripture Focus: Luke 11:1-10 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------What a comfort to have the Holy Spirit interceding for us when we don't know how to pray. We, like children, often don't know what's best for us. As a teenager I begged to be permitted to go to a party to which I had been invited. I couldn't understand why the answer continued to be no, though I cried and pled. My parents could not approve of the crowd that would be there. I didn't listen to their explanation, but later, when I found out some of the things that had occurred at that party, I understood why I had not been allowed to go. Someone wiser than I could see things I was too inexperienced to see. My parents said no because they loved me and knew what was best for me. God doesn’t always give us what we think we need, and we tend to think He did not hear our prayer. But He probably answered with no, or wait. Many times in retrospect I’ve seen why my prayers were not answered as I wanted, and I have been very thankful. INSIGHT: What if we got everything we think we want? Aren't you glad God always knows what's best for us?

Comfort Scripture Focus: Psalm 23 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------When sorrow threatens to overcome us, we need more than soothing sympathy. Thankfully, the root meaning of comfort in Latin, “fortis,” means brave. Christian comfort brings courage and enables one to cope with life's problems.

When sorrow comes, words usually can’t make us feel better, but a Christian friend's prayerful love and caring can give us strength to carry on. We can be sure that Christ will comfort us. He experienced suffering far worse than we could ever know, and will carry us through every difficulty. When we search for solace and strength, we can find it in David's beautiful picture of our Shepherd's loving care. He could say with quiet confidence, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (v. 4). Christ is always with us, just as He promised. Even when we feel totally alone, He is there with the strength we need for that moment. INSIGHT: When we walk through the valley of shadows, Christ is there. When everything in our world is dark, He is our light and comfort.

Mastery of Fear Scripture Focus: Psalm 27:1-6 “The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------I have heard many times that fear is a lack of faith. I suppose it is. I like to think, however, that fear can be but a temporary lapse, since I believe most of us are guilty at some time or other of feeling apprehension and even panic. There are many true accounts of Christians who have been attacked, robbed, and their lives threatened. I doubt if any one of those people could honestly say, “I was not afraid.” But many of them survived because they mastered the fear and were able with God's help to get through the situation. When I’m afraid, I find comfort in David’s words, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). With the many frightening conditions in our world today, it would be easy to become obsessed by fear. Christ assures us that we need not dwell in fear even when we do not have the strength to overcome it. He wants us to rely on Him to be with us, just as He promised. His peace can replace our fear as we put our trust in Him. INSIGHT: Even when we're in fear-filled circumstances, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Joy in Serving Scripture Focus: Psalm 100 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:11-12).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A friend commented that a person should not agree to accept a responsibility in the church, and then complain about how much work it is. We are encouraged to “serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2, KJV). Experience has taught me that it is best to pray about accepting a task before I agree to it. Once, in a moment of weakness, I agreed to head a committee in our church's women's organization, knowing this was not something in which I was skilled. If I had taken time to ask the Lord about it, my decision would have been different. I was already involved in a project I knew the Lord was directing. I soon realized that I could not do justice to either job, which took away the joy of serving. I learned a very frustrating lesson. When we have received Christ’s abundant life, we can let Him lead us where we can serve Him with gladness. If He is directing us, we will have whatever we need to do the job He has for us. INSIGHT: It is a pleasure indeed to serve when we know Christ is directing and giving strength for the job.

Victory over Evil Scripture Focus: Romans 8:28-39 “I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long” (Psalm 44:6-8).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A man walked into a scene of a holdup at a grocery store. The gunman ordered him to turn over his money, threatening to shoot him if he didn't comply. “You just go ahead and shoot,” the customer responded. “I just got through reading my Bible, and I've already said my prayers.” The robber was so dumbfounded that he let the confident customer simply walk away. Though we may never face that sort of encounter, evil exists in many forms. A fear of failure steals our courage. Guilt over something in our past robs us of self-respect. When our prayers

aren't answered as we want, doubts assail us. In contrast, Paul writes with a confidence that we too can enjoy, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). INSIGHT: “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). What else do we need?

Provision for Our Needs Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:25-34 “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:12,19).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------The bird feeders were filled with seeds, but the greedy starlings emptied the feeders before other birds could get to them. What a nuisance those starlings were! But when a young one flew into the wall, knocking himself out, I no longer saw him as a nuisance, but as a living creature. Tears filled my eyes as I ran out to see if I could help the poor little bird. As soon as I approached, he got up, shook himself, and reeled a moment before flying away. Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). God cares about that lowly, pesky starling. When we, as God’s beloved creations, feel unimportant, unloved, and at our wit's end, we can remember that God cares about even the lowly, annoying, unloved starlings. He loves us without reserve, and stands ready to give us life - life abundant. We can be content, knowing God will meet all our needs from His limitless riches in glory. INSIGHT: God is so good! We may think we don't matter to anyone, but we are very important to God!

Friendship Scripture Focus: John 15:15-16 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Someone has said, “All the wealth in the world could not buy you a friend or pay you for the loss of one.” A close friend is the one who loves me in spite of my faults. When I need someone to talk to, she will listen without judging me. She's always there to comfort me, to encourage, and to offer advice when I ask for it. Doesn’t that picture Jesus? He is even closer than any earthly friend could ever be. He's always available to hear us. He listens and loves us in spite of our faults. He understands our feelings when nobody else can. He knows what we need, even before we ask. But friendship isn’t one-sided. To have a friend, one must be a friend. If we value an earthly friend, we don't take that relationship for granted. Jesus wants our true friendship - our love and obedience. We need to cultivate that relationship, never taking Him for granted. He's that friend “who sticks closer than a brother.” He loved us enough to give His life that we may have eternal life. INSIGHT: What a friend we have in Jesus! What a privilege to be chosen by Him as His friend!

Eyes to See Scripture Focus: Luke 11:34-36 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. . . . If your whole body is full of light . . . it will be completely lighted” (Luke 11:34,36).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus spoke not only of the physical eyes, but also of the eyes of our minds and hearts. Our physical eyesight is important to us. If our eyes go bad, our world becomes dark. We are often cautioned to take care of our sight. If we develop an eye disease, we consult an ophthalmologist to see if the problem can be remedied with eye drops or perhaps even eye surgery. We need also to take care of our inner eyes. If our spiritual sight fails, we may not be able to see what God has in store for us or recognize what we can do for others. The lamp will have gone out, casting us into darkness. I know a man who has been blind for years, but “sees” better than most people. He has to rely on the eyes of his wife, his guide dog, and others to see his physical surroundings. But his inner eye is working well. His lamp is burning brightly. His close relationship with Christ keeps him filled with so much light that it spills out to help illuminate the way for others. INSIGHT: Jesus asked, “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?” (Mark 8:17-18).

Forgiveness Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:9-15 “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Forgiveness is a blessing of abundant life that is one of the most difficult to request or accept. We don't release grudges easily. I, like many others, have very little problem forgiving mistreatment against me. However, it's a different story when someone has abused someone dear to me. At times I've struggled very hard with that concept, agonizing in prayer over it. Only when I realized I could not do it alone was I able to release the bitterness and let Christ walk me through the process of forgiving. The greatest example in all time of forgiveness is Jesus' prayer on the cross when He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). When we come to Christ for the forgiveness we need, He cleanses away our bitterness and enables us to forgive the one who has hurt us. Then we can breathe pure air as we walk joyfully in the abundant life He provides. INSIGHT: How wonderful to let Christ cleanse our hearts of all hatred, resentment, and bitterness! Then we can walk in harmony with Him.

Ears to Hear Scripture Focus: Mark 4:23-25 “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears let him hear” (Matthew 13:43). “The message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------So many times Christ ended one of his sermons or parables with the warning, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Have you ever talked to one of your children, only to find the child staring back with a blank look? If you ask your young one to repeat what you said, he can't, because his mind was elsewhere. He simply did not hear your gentle, but repeated reminder of an undone task.

But what if you mention to that same child plans for visiting a toy store? Suddenly you have his undivided attention. We had a dog who never seemed to hear our call when it was bath time. But the slightest clink of the cookie jar lid would bring her bounding from the farthest corner of the house. That is known as selective hearing. Are our ears attuned to the still, small voice of Christ, or do we select only what we want to hear? Are we alert to His promises of comfort, but deaf to His reminders of what He asks us to do? INSIGHT: “Ears that hear and eyes that see - the Lord has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12). We want Christ to hear us when we call; do we listen for His call?

Understanding Scripture Focus: Colossians 2:1-5 “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 1:6).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------More than once our Lord asked His disciples, “Don't you understand?” Now, more than 2,000 years later, we are not different from the disciples. Christ has so many good things for us, but we often fail to understand. A father watched from the window as his little son played in his sandbox with his cars and trucks, plastic pail and shovel. In the process of creating roads, the boy uncovered a large rock. He managed to roll the rock to the edge of the sandbox, but all of his shoving and pushing couldn't roll it up and over the wall. Finally, totally frustrated, the little boy burst into tears. When the father came, he asked his son, “Why didn't you use all the strength that you had?” The little boy sobbed back, “But I did, Daddy, I did!” “No, son,” corrected the father kindly. “You didn't ask me.” With that, the father easily removed the rock from the sandbox. INSIGHT: Do you have a huge rock to move? Are you trying to solve the problem alone? Your Father is available with all the strength you need for the job.

Inheritance Scripture Focus:

Romans 8:16-18 “The Sprit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------It's impossible to believe that I could ever be good enough to be a co-heir with Christ. Though I want to please God and be exactly what He wants me to be, I know many times I disappoint Him. God knows I'm not perfect, but He loves me anyway. He sends His Holy Spirit to nudge me when I need to change. When I chose to give my heart to Him, He made me His child, making me His heir - not because of my goodness but because Jesus Christ died for me. Chinese Bible teacher Watchman Nee told about a new convert who came to him distressed over his difficulty in staying faithful to the Lord. “Do you see my dog here?” Nee asked. “He is house trained, never makes a mess, is obedient. He is a pure delight to me. But out in the kitchen I have a baby son. He makes a mess, throws his food around, fouls his clothes - he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog. My son is my heir. You are God's heir because it is for you Jesus Christ died.” INSIGHT: Inherit God's wonderful riches in glory? Yes, you have “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

Direct Line to God Scripture Focus: Hebrews 9:2-14 “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:15-16).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------We keep a cell phone in our car. Because it was not used often, I turned it on sometimes only to find that the battery had run down. We acquired a cord to connect the phone to the cigarette lighter, giving it power to operate properly. Even then, in our travels, we've found ourselves in “dead” zones, where we're between contacts. At the moment Christ gave His life on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The Holy of Holies was no longer restricted to the few special people. Instead, God's children were given direct contact with Him. What a privilege! God never breaks His connection with us. When we feel we're in a “dead” zone and cannot contact God, it's our own doing - never His. Other things crowd our lives, cutting us off from

God. Our batteries need charging by reading His Word and aligning our wills with His. Then that direct line to God opens up - part of the abundant life He promises us. INSIGHT: Recharge those batteries, plug into God's direct line. Conversation with Him is wonderful!

Compassion Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------In the retirement community where I live, many of us are still in good health, living independently. But we see numerous residents in various stages of infirmity. Compassion is high on the list of virtues seen daily. It's not uncommon to see residents pushing wheelchairs, taking people from the nursing and assisted-living areas to the beauty shop, bank, clinic, to church on Sunday, or just for a ride through the campus center. Among one man stands out to me. Every evening after dinner, he visits the nursing areas, transitional care, and Alzheimer's units. The residents look forward to his visits, for they know he really cares about them. His light-hearted banter with each of them lifts their spirits. To me, this is compassion. God has blessed him with a gift of gab, and has surely blessed those who benefit by his gift. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). INSIGHT: Look around. There's someone who needs you to show Christ's compassion and genuine love.

Hope Scripture Focus: Romans 8:24-28 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5).

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Hope may be defined as trust that one's desires will be fulfilled. To hope for something is much more than to wish for it. We may wish we had a million dollars, but we don't have any real hope or belief that we'll get it. During World War II, when my husband was reported missing in action and later to be in a prison camp in Germany, my favorite Bible verse was Psalm 31:24, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Hope is a faith-filled element of fervent prayer. Every now and then you may hear someone say that another person is hopeless. But that isn't true. To say a person or a situation is hopeless is a direct denial of the power of God. Christ has given healing for all our hurts, insights to build a God-honoring life, love to give away, dreams to dare us to reach beyond where we've been, and power to overcome obstacles. He has given us possibilities unlimited. What matters is not where we've been, but where we're going. INSIGHT: As the old hymn reminds us, we base our hope on Jesus' blood and righteousness.

Enthusiasm Scripture Focus: Romans 12:1-18 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A few years ago, when Christians were not allowed to practice their faith in the Soviet Union, I read of a young Christian woman who escaped to another country in Europe. She was excited to attend church and worship God in the open. She expected to see her same happiness mirrored in the faces of her new friends, but she was disappointed. Their faces revealed more boredom than excitement. It was as if they took their freedom for granted. She couldn't believe that these people, who could practice their faith without punishment, would not be the most excited, exuberant people in the world. Someone described spiritual enthusiasm as a faith that has been set on fire. It is as contagious as measles and as powerful as dynamite. It can move mountains of apathy and produce victory never dreamed of. Then why aren’t all Christians enthusiastic over the wonderful freedom we have to show love for our Lord? What if that freedom were taken away?

INSIGHT: Are others searching your life for enthusiasm? Will they find it there? Or will they be disappointed?

Patience Scripture Focus: Galatians 5:22-26 “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . patience” (Galatians 5:22). “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”(Ephesians 4:2).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Being patient with others is not easy. We need Christ to change our hearts, and He often teaches us through difficult relationships. He helps us see others through His eyes and to love them with His love. There’s a story about a grandfather, living with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. When the grandfather began spilling his milk on the tablecloth, dropping food on the carpet, and breaking a few dishes, the son and daughter-in-law lost patience with him. Putting him at a small table in the corner of the kitchen seemed a solution. They served his food in a wooden bowl. He ate alone while they enjoyed their meal in the dining room. One day the father noticed his son working with wood scraps. “What are you making?” he asked. “I’m making bowls for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up,” the boy replied. Needless to say, the tablecloth, carpet, and dishes lost their importance as Grandfather again joined the family at the dinner table. INSIGHT: Patience, a fruit of the Spirit, is the grace of God equipping us to endure difficulties for love of Him.

Perseverance Scripture Focus: James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

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Someone has said, “Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.” Among a group of skaters, a little boy fell on the ice over and over, each time pulling himself up to try again. A lady watched the small beginner with pity. “Sonny,” she said, “maybe you should get off the ice and just watch the others, instead of falling and hurting yourself.” Looking through tears at his shiny steel blades, the boy replied, “I didn't get some new skates to give up with; I got them to learn how with.” All the Olympic skaters who make their beautiful movements on the ice look so easy could tell stories of their many falls. Their struggles toughened them, gave them the strength it takes to compete with the best. If we went through life without any struggles, we would never accomplish what God has for us to do. The difficulties you and I try so hard to avoid actually strengthen us. If we keep our faith in Christ, He is faithful to bring us through the hard times. INSIGHT: Some of the strongest Christians are those who have had the hardest lives. They have much to share with others who are struggling.

Our Responsibility Scripture Focus: Matthew 25:14-30 “His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus' story in today's Bible reading shows us that we each have a responsibility to use God's gifts wisely in furthering His kingdom. It may mean finding a place of service in a church. It certainly means that we will share God's love with others. If we’re afraid to get involved, we may be like the man who told the pastor that he wanted to join the church, but he was very busy. He would not have time to serve on a committee, sing in the choir, or teach in Sunday School. Actually, he could not even be expected to attend Sunday morning worship very often. After a moment of thought, the pastor told him he was in the wrong place, referring him to a church down the street. When the man went to check out the other church, he was stunned. He found the building deserted and boarded up!

Are we investing ourselves in building Christ's kingdom? INSIGHT: God has given us the privilege of serving Him. What a blessing to be able to share His love with others!

Good Works Scripture Focus: James 2:14-22 “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------The needs in our world are overwhelming. Millions need Christ's love expressed in ways that are clear and compelling. They desperately need practical expressions of His love in the form of food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment offered in His name. It is very easy to think that whatever we can do will not make any difference at all. But don’t tell that to the Canadian first-grade boy who heard about the acute need for fresh water in Africa and decided to do something about it. His enthusiasm and determination caught on and others became involved. The resulting well in an African village brought far more than life-saving fresh water; it brought love from people who in the name of Christ cared enough to take the first small step. The abundant life Christ gives us enables us to express our faith in action. With a little effort, we can make a difference - in our homes, at work, in the church, and around the world! INSIGHT: Will our pitiful offerings ever be enough to help people in need? When we put ours with the small gifts of others, we can make a difference.