Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Help Others, Help Yourself

Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the moon was shining brightly and stars were also clearly visible. The mist from yesterday was totally gone. Today is supposed to get up to the hundreds in the heat index, but thankfully, the A/C is working! God is good!

The mowers had just finished when I went to the park yesterday, but they are not bothering with the path where the lady was attacked by the gator last week. "Too soon old, and too late smart", a favorite saying of my late Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother. But the turtles were sunning and the canal water was quiet and all was peaceful. God is good!

From the book Quiet Moments with God:

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead, also. James 2:26

Who comes to the rescue of towns torn apart by a tornado, or a church with a small congregation and smaller budget that needs much repair?

A group of mostly retirees in recreational vehicles. They travel throughout the South during the autumn and winter months, escaping cold temperatures and doing good along the way. Some are experienced in carpentry and construction, and some are not, but they all have the same goal: to make their time count by helping others.

The UMC chooses projects and assigns teams to each site. The workers, who pay all their expenses, meet at the appointed time and get right to work. To keep the jobs enjoyable, everyone works four days and then has three days off to relax and see the sights. The fun part, reported one woman volunteer, is the opportunity to have fellowship with like-minded people.

The same generosity of spirit, on a slightly different scale, is described in the Book of Acts. "All the believers, were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was disstributed to anyone as he has need." (Acts 4:32,34-35)

When we have the chance to do good, we should jump at it. "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets," Jesus said in
Matthew 7:12. Jesus asked us to serve, and we will be blessed when we do so.

No act of kindness, however small is ever wasted.
Aesop

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis