Tag: compassion

encouragement, inspiration, Uncategorized

God of Comfort

by balm4thesoulLeave a Comment on God of Comfort

Thank You, Lord, that even in my pain, You give me strength to comfort and encourage others. Thank You for the people that comfort and encourage me. You take care of us even when we don’t know how to take care of ourselves. You are truly a good God.

“Praise be to 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, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

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Delayed Reaction By Tammy Nicole Glover

by balm4thesoulLeave a Comment on Delayed Reaction By Tammy Nicole Glover

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out the workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37 NIV

Do you ever murmur and complain about the things that God calls you to do? Do you put it off because sometimes what He’s calling you to do seems so small that it’s not worth the inconvenience? Before you procrastinate doing something that God has called you to do, ask yourself if your delayed reaction will cause an answer to someone’s prayer be delayed. Ask yourself if you will be responsible for someone else to stumble.

If you put off praying for someone or something that God has put on your heart, will it mean that someone’s suffering will be prolonged? If you put off giving away something that you never use, will someone who truly needs it go without? If I hold off on giving to a charity that has touched me spirit, will it mean that someone will starve? If I don’t give someone an encouraging word, will that mean that someone will give up on life? If I decide to wait to tell someone about Jesus, will that mean that someone will spend an eternity in hell?

When God calls us to do something it is to fill a need. We are his arms, his hands, his legs and his feet on earth. We are not to just focus on ourselves. We are supposed to be following his example and loving others. Loving others means being inconvenienced sometimes. It means stepping out of our comfort zones. It means sacrificing. Someone is praying for a miracle and God maybe calling you to be that miracle. Don’t ignore his call. It is an honor and a blessing to be used by God.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it wuold be better for them to have a large millstone hang around their neck and to be drowned in the sea.” Matthew 18:6 NIV

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WOULD YOU DO IT? By Tammy Glover

by balm4thesoul3 Comments on WOULD YOU DO IT? By Tammy Glover

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV

Would you give a drink of water to someone who is thirsty? Would you give up your favorite coat to someone who is cold? Would you give your last piece of bread to someone who is hungry? Would you offer someone a place to lay their head? Would you offer comfort to someone in pain? Would you help someone up if they had fallen? Would you lay down your life to save someone else’s?

Most people would answer yes to these questions if it were a close family member or friend. However, the real question is, would those same people still answer yes if it were for a complete stranger. What if it was someone who humiliated you, lied to you, beat you, betrayed you or completely denied your existence? I’m guessing that the answer to these questions would change to absolutely not for a lot of people.

There is someone who did do those things for us despite what we did to him. His name is Jesus. He endured torture and humiliation for everyone, even those who mistreated him. He died so that we could receive salvation. He didn’t wait until we wised up and begged for his forgiveness. He didn’t wait until our attitudes changed. He asked for forgiveness on our behalf, knowing that we didn’t know any better, and he suffered the punishment that we should have received. He loves us in spite of ourselves. Aren’t you glad that he was willing to do that for us? Now, if God can forgive us after all we’ve done, why can’t we forgive each other?

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each other. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 NIV

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THROUGH A STRANGER’S EYES by Tammy Glover

by balm4thesoul4 Comments on THROUGH A STRANGER’S EYES by Tammy Glover

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.” Psalm 41:1, NIV

What if you were granted the ability to see through another person’s eyes? What do you think you would see? Do you think that you would see that the well-to-do couple down the street is completely happy or would you see that they are stressed out because they are living above their means? Do you think you would see the little boy that has been causing trouble on the block is being told by his parents that they wish he was never born and that he will never amount to anything?

Do you think that you would see your boss gleefully finding ways to make your life difficult or instead would you see that his boss is threatening to fire him if he does not perform? Do you think that you would see that the coworker who couldn’t be bothered to say good morning to you, weeping in her car because she found out that the lump in her breast is cancer? Do you think you would see that the coworker in everyone’s business is so lonely that she is contemplating suicide?

Maybe you could see the lady that cut you off on the way home was running away from an abusive husband? Could you see that the cashier that was rude to you just buried her eleven year old son and she couldn’t afford to take time off work to properly grieve? Could you see your friend who refuses to return your calls was raped a week ago and she’s ashamed to tell you?

If you could see these things, would that change the way you felt about them? Would you still be angry and judgmental or would you pray for them? Would this be the only way you could feel compassion for them? Well, we don’t have the power to see everything that is going on in someone’s life, nor can we see what people are thinking. We all have emotional scars that we’ve caused each other and ourselves. God still expects us to have compassion for each other just as He has compassion for us. We all need to be shown love, even if we don’t show it.

As difficult as it is, before you become angry or start to complain about someone, try to take a step back and consider that maybe something deeper that you can’t see is going on with that person. Show compassion. Pray for those who hurt you because you never know what that person maybe going through.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless; like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36, NIV