Fountains of Life

Others

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So many times it seems like when we help others it actually helps us more. Whether it’s holding a door open for a person behind you, carrying a package of groceries for someone, or letting another driver merge into traffic in front of you, if our hearts are right, we feel God’s pleasure. 

In Joshua chapter one God gives the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh their settlement east of the Jordan River, yet when the rest of the Israelites were crossing over the river to take the Promised Land to the west, Joshua had asked them to help fight on behalf of the other tribes’ lands. Once the others had settled down, they would then be allowed to return to their own property. These brave fighting men readily agreed to cross over and help their brothers. (Josh.1:12-17)

I find this interesting that God wanted them to help their brothers win their land before they settled themselves. He wanted them to put others first. 

But isn’t this what Jesus did? Didn’t He put us first?

In 1910, the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, was aging and near the end of his life. He was unable to attend their Christmas convention to encourage the soldiers on their relentless service, especially during the holiday season and during the cold winter months, so he simply sent a one-word telegram to be read. And what was that one word he sent that summarizes their whole mission? “Others.”  

That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Others?

In a world where some people are simply looking out for themselves, it’s refreshing to see those who are looking out for others. Those who stay a little longer just to help out a co-worker, those who bring meals to the sick, help out the elderly, read to children, or a slew of other types of volunteers — all this is done for the sake of others. 

Matt. 7:12 — “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, 

do also to them…”

So as we go throughout our day, let’s ask the Lord to show us opportunities to help others. And if we can’t physically, then let’s fight for them with prayer and encouraging words. I believe that when we serve others out of love and not obligation, we express the true heart of Father God. 

Be Nice

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Lately I have found myself within the halls of hospitals and I must say, it’s not my favorite place to be. I’m not sure it’s anyone’s true joy to sit in waiting rooms or listen to the myriad of sounds in the corridors of a medical facility, however, these things do occur and must be managed. 

In certain situations, I get a lot of reading done, which I DO like to do, though standing by waiting to speak to a medical person about someone who was rushed to an emergency room can be a bit wearisome. Yet, it was here where I found a touch of kindness in the midst of chaos.

My sister and I had been in the ER waiting room amongst crying children and suffering patients for about thirty minutes after my mother had arrived by ambulance. We were listening for an attendant to call her name and talk to the family when a man with a tie and badge on walked up to us (must have been an administrator being dressed up) and asked who we were waiting for. After having told him and disappearing behind the automatic double-doors, he returned with good news that we could come back and sit with her. His voice was calming and reassuring as we followed behind him into the hallway.

It was sincere kindness during tension and turmoil.

He was nice. And so was every other person we came in contact with at the hospital. Though it was late into the evening, I was truly amazed at how considerate and friendly these doctors, nurses, technicians, and staff were. They were all nice. Which meant a lot to me in the middle of this stressful situation. 

Not only in the emergency room, but throughout the entire hospital I found genuine  gentleness and goodness. And you know the other thing I found out? That kindness breeds kindness. As I received the graciousness and forbearance from these hard-working souls, I found myself being kinder to others too — in the lobby, driving home, at the store.

These verses popped into my mind:

  • Eph. 4:32—“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
  • Gal. 6:9-10—“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
  • Luke 6:35—“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” 

Reflecting on these, the lesson Father God had for me was simply: “Be nice.”

So that’s my goal. With whomever I come in contact with, wherever I am, just be nice. Smile at people. Help them if I can. Speak encouragement or kind words to them. If an over-worked medical team can walk in kindness during critical, even life-threatening situations, I think I can try to do so also.

Growing is a Choice

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There are times I feel like I’m growing in the Lord a lot — hearing His voice clearly, devouring the Word daily, and walking in mercy toward others consistently. Then there are other times when I feel like I’m stuck — where God seems far away, I can’t seem to get into the Word, and I’m walking around with an angry edge. 

Part of it, I’ve come to realize, is that I don’t always adapt to what’s going on around me. In other words, situations in life change but I don’t want to. I don’t want to accept the changes in my family, my job, my health, my finances. And I know it is simply a CHOICE to acknowledge things and grow or not. Unfortunately many times I choose NOT to grow and it’s because of fear. 

Then the other day I read something that helped me with this.

I knew I have had a fear of the unknown at times, and with God’s help, it’s gotten better over the years. But what I read said that it’s not always what we don’t know that causes us to fear, but it’s the pain and loss of what we do know.  Meaning this — it may be more difficult to let go of the familiar territory in our lives, the people and places we’re accustomed to, our routines and habits, and other circumstances we’re acquainted with, than to embrace something new. Sometimes it’s not necessarily what we’re afraid to go to, but what we’re afraid to turn loose of.  

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus explains some of the challenges of being His disciple.“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Vs. 58) Now for me, I can get real comfortable right where I’m at — same seat at church, normal exercise time, usual places to shop, familiar people to hang around. It’s all good. 

But as we follow Him, we don’t always know where life is going to take us. Jobs can shift. People may move. Children will grow up. Family members pass away. I find it interesting that in the Matthew 8 account of this story, immediately after telling His disciples how unconventional their lives may become, they all got in a boat with Jesus and a storm came up. (Matt. 8:23) Boom! Just like He said —you never know what you’re going to get!

Except one big thing we do know we’re always gonna get — we’re always gonna get Him. God will never leave us or forsake us. He’ll be in the floodwaters and fire with us. He’ll go through the storms and struggles with us. He is Immanuel — “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23)

Therefore, I can choose to grow, because He is with me. I can face the unknown, because He’s with me. I can let go of the past, because He’s with me. I can get courage to change, to advance, to try, to mature, to believe, because He’s with me. And I can get permission to fail too, because He’s with me and doesn’t judge me. 

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”— Serenity Prayer

He’s with us, y’all. Let’s choose to grow. 

(By Cyndi)

How Are You Judged?

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By Guest Writer, Pam Oglesby

As a Christian, what message do you show others? I am not particularly talking about spoken words, although that is important too. So let me tell you a story.

My neighbor and her daughter stopped by my house yesterday to visit. The woman said to me, “I can tell your leg hurts as you are moving it around so much.” Her 8-year-old daughter spends time with me occasionally and she had told her mother she noticed sometimes my leg was still and sometimes it was not. The little girl thought that me moving my leg meant it hurt and she was right. I had never told her that I moved it because of pain, as I was doing that subconsciously, but she noticed it anyway.

So, if an 8-year-old picked up that kind of information, what else do we show others without realizing it? I really started thinking about that.

It could be a frown while thinking of a problem, or even a scowl. Maybe we are so caught up in thought that we quickly greet someone with a curt “hello” instead of a friendly one — or maybe no greeting at all. What if we keep our arms folded in front of our bodies when we’re around people? Does that subconsciously say, “Stay away from me?”

What does the Bible say about greeting others? What does it say about our actions?

1 Peter 5:14 — Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 — Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

John 15:12 — This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Matthew 5:16 — In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

These verses tell me that being a Christian means loving others, greeting others with joy, and to perform good deeds. Our actions are observed by others and they may notice something when you are not aware of them doing so. 

So, today, think about your actions and your re-actions when around other people. I hope people look at me and see a Christian.

                                       

What Are You Thinking?

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Ever think about what you’re thinking about?

Phil.4:8 tells us: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I love watching little children at the beach. Exploring the water, jumping into waves, moving their tiny toes in the sand. One day I watched a man repeatedly chase down his three-year-old granddaughter bounding towards the ocean with her water-wings on, laughing and smiling as she scurried away. Pure joy and delight were on both of their faces. I like thinking on these kind of things. 

I also follow certain groups on social media who report on positive news-worthy things going on in the world, like neighbors helping neighbors, total strangers supporting each other, rescues, good deeds, and virtuous acts of kindness and bravery. For me, at least, if I’m going to use these platforms, I prefer to put wholesome things into my mind. There is enough negative and discouraging news all around me, it takes an effort sometimes to counteract those things in my thoughts. 

The Word of God has some great wisdom about our thoughts too. Isa. 26: 3 says we will stay in perfect peace if we keep our mind on Him. Col. 3:2 reminds us to keep our minds on things above and not on things of this earth. Also any chapter in the book of Psalms always has a way of restoring my soul and returning hope to me when I’m caught up in the muck of the world. And check out the apostle Paul giving Timothy some good advice throughout the letters he wrote to him (particularly 2 Tim. 2).

So think about what you’re thinking about and I’ll leave you, my friend, with the lyrics from an old Don Moen song: 

Think about His love, think about His goodness

Think about His grace that’s brought us through

For as high as the heavens above

So great is the measure of our father’s love

Great is the measure of our Father’s love