be a friend who inspires

There are people that make life much sweeter. Do you know some of those people? These are the ones who I spoke of yesterday who are friends that encourage and inspire us.

My question for us to consider today is this: am I the friend that inspires the people around me to do more, to think deeper and to live a life of meaning?

Let me pause there for a moment and make a confession. I do not believe, not for a moment, that the plan from God is for us to be busier. It is my firm belief that our great and gracious God desires for us to live with meaning. That is a choice each of us has to make for ourselves.

Meaning comes from understanding who we are. I am a child of God by God’s grace and His gift of Jesus. My stand is one of brokenness and forgiveness, strength in the midst of weakness because of God, confidence based on what God says is true and not on feelings I have. Meaning most often begins when we begin to live for more than just ourselves.

Back to the question. Am I encouraging others to live with meaning?

Jude 1:20-24 NLT

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. 22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. 24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

Build others up. Pray and wait on God. Stay close to God, share His love, show mercy, rescue those struggling and be an inspiration. That is not about doing more. It is about being a person of influence, a friend and an encourager.

That kind of person, the kind I choose to be, inspires meaning in others.

Catalyst ticket arrived

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

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....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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