WOW!

Wow, what a trip! We returned home May 26th after being out on the road since April 23rd. In that time frame we drove 21,239 miles! 😮  I thank God for His protection!!

We expect to be gone again in a few days. So hopefully, I’ll be able to post a bit and share some of the other blogs I have read recently while also taking care of things that need to be done here at home. 🙂
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It is amazing at how the pace of life changes from one area to another here in America. From easy and laid back to a high fever pitch.

These reach into every aspect of an individual’s day to day life and whether at home, work, or play it seems the pace never changes. I have encountered many folks in my travels, through the years and even recently, in which this has given me pause for reflection.

Have I, in my pace [whatever it may be] without judging, expecting repayment or accolades, shared the love of Christ through….
– seeing and helping the hurting?
– giving help to those less fortunate than I?
– grieving with those who grieve?
– etc, etc.

James 1:27  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Rom. 12:15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Also see Matthew 25:34-46

Think of this as well…..

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
(James 2:14-18)

Too many times we pass up, as followers of Christ, “…doing unto the least.”
We get so caught up in our own lives that we are blinded by self.
People forget that we are to BE Christ and not just talk about Him nor to even plan or program what we intend to do except BE Him to others in spite of our differences.
We are to be spontaneous in being Jesus to those around us.

Jesus said, in John 12:32,  “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself,” verse 33 says, ‘He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die’.
Yet I believe it goes even further.
If we lift up Jesus in our lives, let His life be seen and truly live in us, then HE will draw others to Himself.

Just as the chorus says from the song by Casting Crowns ‘If We Are The Body’,
But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Jesus loves us as we are! He will clean us as we surrender to Him!
Jesus was known as ‘friend of sinners’!
Jesus came to redeem us!