Category: Bible

Showing Empathy plan

December 15, 2021

I have just finished a plan on the YouVersion Bible app called “Showing Empathy”. It reminded me that showing empathy is actually compassion in action.

Here is a snipped from day 5 of the plan…

“If you find yourself truly not grasping how to live empathetically, here are some ways to help adjust your mindset so that you can see the needs in front of you:

  • Pray daily, “God, give me Your eyes to see who’s hurting near me.”
  • When you hear that someone is going through a challenging time, imagine that you’re the one going through that. Your heart will soften, and as it does, find a way to help lessen their burden with a prayer, kind word, or selfless act.
  • Make a regular habit of just listening to people without offering any words. As they talk, seek to understand what’s happened in their past and is currently happening in their present that’s led them to where they are now.”

If you are interested, you can search for it on YouVersion and look for the image above.

Blessings,
Dave

Two verses for two new roles

December 8, 2021

Next year I am starting two new exciting roles. One in my church and one in our wheatbelt communities. In the later I will be driving about 700km a week.

To keep me company I am going to listen to worship music, podcasts and the Bible. I am also going to keep some Bible verses on the dashboard of my car.

The two I am going to start with are Ephesians 3:20 and Matthew 5:16…

Ephesians 3:20 NLT – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Matthew 5:16 NLT – In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

I was already thinking about these two verses and then they came up as verses of the day of two of my Bible apps. Co-incidence or God-incidence?

Next year I am going to let my light shine and imagine big things. I am going to play my part and let God do His. Yes I am nervous but I know God has got me and I have Him.

God Bless,
Dave

Mark a straight path

December 7, 2021

Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT – Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. [26] Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. [27] Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

I really like a few things in this wisdom from Proverbs chapter four. If we break it down we see four main ideas.

1. Look straight ahead in a focussed way.

2. Mark out a right path or course to follow.

3. Stay on that path and don’t get sidetracked.

4. Keep your feet from following the path of evil.

The thing I like about this is there a real choice. We are told to intentionally fix our eyes on something and set a path towards it. Then we need to be determined to follow that path and stay on track.

As I read these verses today it made me think about my eyes and my feet. It encouraged me to focus on a godly goal with my eyes, then to walk steadily towards it with my feet.

Prayer

Lord God, help me to focus on a good goal for Your Kingdom. Help me to stay focused and not stray from the path. I pray my feet will not follow evil. Help me to serve You and You alone. Amen.

The right type of wisdom

December 1, 2021

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”.

Let’s break down the words from this verse to help us to understand the wisdom that comes from heaven. I have looked the words up in my kids school dictionary.

Pure – pure means not mixed with anything else, clean and free from harmful substances, containing nothing sinful.

Peace-loving – peace is a state of calm and quiet when there is no disturbance, no war.

Considerate – someone who pays attention to the needs and feelings of others.

Submissive – behaving in a quiet and obedient way.

Full of Mercy – showing mercy means showing kindness and forgiveness and do not punish someone as severly as you could.

Full of good fruit – good fruit is the good things for others, especially being kind to them.

Impartial – having a view of something which is fair and un-biased.

Sincere – if you are sincere you say and do things that you really mean, you are honest and genuine.

Having wisdom is about having knowledge and then putting that knowledge in to practice in the right way.

This verse shows that we should use our wisdom in a caring and considerate way that shows shows no favouritism. If we are doing these things, we will know our wisdom is the wisdom that comes from heaven.

Let us show wisdom today.

Give justice

November 23, 2021

Psalm 82:3-4 NLT – “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. [4] Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

Some Bible verses need a commentary to help understand them. Verses like the ones above don’t. We can read them and understand what we need to do.

These verses tell us to look after vulnerable people. People who are struggling to look after themselves. People who are oppressed by others. People who are poor and helpless.

I believe caring for vulnerable people is very close to God’s heart. Time and time again in the Bible He encourages us to look after the weak, the widow, the orphan, the oppressed.

As I type I am challenged afresh by these verses. What have I done? What am I doing? What can I do next? These thoughts are words rolling around in my spirit.

Can I sponsor another child? Can I volunteer at a shelter? Can I do some training that well help me be more effective in helping? Do I know someone who needs help?

How about you?

Prayer

Lord God, I want to make a real and lasting difference in this world. I want to help the poor and helpless, I want to help the widow and the orphan, I want to help the oppressed. Please show me what I can do to help. Show me what You want me to do. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.