This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12.
What quality is this love? … A love for the soul that would part with selfish gratifications and practice stern self-denial in order to elevate, ennoble, and sanctify those with whom we associate. “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” John 17:19. Do you love those with whom you associate well enough to forgo your desire for amusement and self-pleasing that you will not place these souls in the path of temptation, that you will not beckon them to pursue a course of fun and frolic which leads to the extinguishment of serious thoughts in regard to the salvation of their souls? Do you cultivate personal piety, … that your youthful friends may follow where you lead the way, upward and forward to obedience to God? … What is the quality of your love? Is it of a character to make your associates more Christlike? Will it have a tendency to bring solid timbers into their character building?
God enjoins upon all His followers to bear a living testimony in unmistakable language by their conduct, their dress and conversation, in all the pursuits of life, that the power of true godliness is profitable to all in this life and in the life to come.
A cheap Christian character works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling, for professed Christians mislead others by professing to represent Him whose name they assume.
God is love. Whoso dwelleth in God, dwelleth in love. All who have indeed become acquainted … with the love and tender compassion of our heavenly Father will impart light and joy wherever they may be. Their presence and influence will be to their associates as the fragrance of sweet flowers, because they are linked to God and heaven, and the purity and exalted loveliness of heaven are communicated through them to all that are brought within their influence.
You can surround your souls with an atmosphere that will be like zephyrs from the heavenly Eden.
The Faith I Live By p. 235
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Prayer Requests
—-My manager, Beth, is having bowel surgery today. She would like prayers. Ronnie Jay
—-I have a prayer request that is coming for the very core of my being. My daughter, Jessica, was shot 4 and a half years ago and was left a quadriplegic. She has tried so hard to adjust and has put up such a fight, dealing on and off with deep depression, trying so hard to find some semblance of new life with some sort of purpose. She no longer wants to live. Cora
—-Please pray that L will listen to reason as he cannot live alone. LS
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Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago I strained and got a small tear in my calf muscle and have been going to physical therapy twice a week. Today the therapist had me walking a line on the floor as he has been working on my bad balance. As I was attempting to keep my feet on the line, he noticed that I had my head down and was leaning over to watch that my feet stayed on the line. Immediately, he stopped me and had me look straight ahead. Walking that line became so much easier that I was surprised. The therapist explained that when a person walks leaning over, a lot of one’s weight goes ahead of our center of gravity making falling much more likely.
So it is in the Christian life. When we spend our time looking downward, it is much easier to stumble and fall. When we look to ourselves and our inability to walk the Christian walk, we have a very hard time. Conversely, when we look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, He gives us the help that we so much need. (Heb 12:2) We may be assured “that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Phil 1:6
May we say as did Micah, “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation” is my prayer.
Rose
Your Influence Counts!