doing something for someone else

If you are anything like me, you are having a tough time watching people hurt right now. The economy, job lose, personal trauma and so much more. Seems to be in epidemic proportions. Yet I think there is something else in even far greater epidemic proportions: selfishness.

Hear me out. Don't turn me off ... at least yet. The only way you turn your selfishness around is by doing something for someone else. Stop talking about who hurt you, what happened to you or how bad things are for you. Those things may be true. But God is still God and He has still blessed you. Turn things around. Give it a try.

Leviticus 19:18 (HCSB) --- Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself.

That verse hit me hard this morning. What part of myself do I put in front of helping other people or doing things for other people? It could be the people that I come across through ministry at church, those I pass by at the store or on the street, or it could even be the people who live in my house.

These are days to do something for someone. Stop living for yourself and start living as if others matter. We hesitate to do this because we comfortable or callus or maybe even uncaring. That hurts, my friends. That really hurts.

Do something for someone else today.

Mark 10:45 (nlt)--- For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I believe that has called our church and me to lead as many people as we can to get outside of ourselves by doing something for someone else. Will you join us this weekend?

Here are some resources I have been encouraged by:

http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/ --- blog that tells the story of homeless people

http://servolution.org/7days/ --- churches gathering April 3-9, 2009 to serve people in their communities

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64457572064 --- facebook group asking people to do one act of kindness per day in 2009

http://thecommunityfellowship.wordpress.com/give-back/ --- results from our Give Back project

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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