tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post6362871034695684260..comments2024-01-20T06:33:12.603-08:00Comments on Created to Give God Glory: Carefully Choosing Words to BlessCreated to Give God Gloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17298394573836878999noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-49646173784259746632013-09-30T07:37:10.000-07:002013-09-30T07:37:10.000-07:00This we read from Ps Prentis' entry: I don'...This we read from Ps Prentis' entry: I don't think we realize that we cannot bless God without blessing others and we bless God when we bless others. We don't seem to make the connection.<br /><br />When we replace "bless" in the above, with "love", it sounded just like in 1 John 4:20-21 which tells us that we cannot be claiming to be loving God when we are loving NOT our brothers. When we love one, that would have to include we bless him/her, would it not be? Yes, it would be. We want the one we love to be in bliss. But do we really love? Many of us are just mouthing love, or love in words only. It will not do, said the Word. We need to love in deeds. <br /><br />To give out any encouraging word or word of hope is not mere word of love when we sincerely release it after taking the trouble to notice another is downcast. It can be the starting of expression of love. We really have to be sincere, for example, when we say, "I have been praying for you", it must be really be that we have done that; the person may not know you are lying, but God knows. When we say, "I WILL be praying for you", mean it, and do it; again God knows when you said it and do not do it. <br /><br />Also important is this, that we do NOT just wish someone "well" when it is just empty words. The Apostle James said this, in James 2:15-16 - <br /><br />15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?<br /><br />Too many of us, and that includes me, too, still lack so much, in compassion and love, that we so commonly ignore the plight of others in need of a word of comfort or a word of hope, and a rendering of aid, whether in prayers or in meeting their physical needs. We often do NOT put ourselves in the shoes of the afflicted ones. We so very often, do NOT stop for another. The story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible is one important story that we should always keep in mind. Don't be like the two men before the Good Samaritan, just passed by the downtrodden man. Ps Prentis has given us the picture that we may not need to look far, just in church, there are "downtrodden" men or women; do we stop for them, or do we just pretend we do NOT see them?<br /><br />If we are NOT in a position to help in their physical needs, the least we can do, is to take notice, release comforting words, pray or promise to pray (ah! Make sure you keep your promise, the Lord witnesses your promise). <br /><br />Church pastors themselves should take the lead; at the end of each service, the senior pastor should announce that pastors are available to pray for people, and have the pastors on duty to be present at the sanctuary front. I serve in this capacity for more than 5 years, along with pastors in my church, I strongly recommend this. If you do not have many pastoral staff, ministry leaders can fill the gaps (it may even be better, if you could minister and pray for people during the service, say, after or at the end of the praise and worship segment of the liturgy of the service).<br /><br />Anthony Chia, high.expressionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-9030077291676617162013-09-29T04:51:14.322-07:002013-09-29T04:51:14.322-07:00Groan. I was just thinking about my words (and my...Groan. I was just thinking about my words (and my attitude) this morning. Apparently, so was God.<br /><br />Thanks. And may the Lord bless you, and your words, this morning.<br /><br />DebAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com