Come Down To The Farm

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. -- Luke 6:28

Outside the example of Jesus, this command makes no sense at all. But, Jesus shows us the importance of leaving our destiny in the hands of our Creator and Father. Suddenly, this makes perfect sense. What is the best way to defeat an enemy? Certainly it's not to beat or kill that person. No, the way we defeat our enemies is by having Jesus' grace capture their hearts and having their character conform to that of our King!

The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefits of non-members.
-- William Temple

A life making mistakes is not only more honorable but more
useful than a life spent doing nothing. 
-- George Bernard Shaw

Do not be discouraged at your faults; bear with yourself in
correcting them, as you would with your neighbor. Lay aside this
ardor of mind, which exhausts your body, and leads you to commit
errors. Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all
your daily occupations. Speak, move, work, in peace, as if you
were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.

-- François Fénelon

Mercy Said No

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-- Matthew 6:20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
-- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Our acceptability to God as His holy dwelling came at a great price to him -- the death of His Son! How can we refuse to honor His holy presence in us? How can we not live a holy life in response to his grace?

In the final analysis our great problem with holiness is not
that our concepts of holiness are feeble, but that our hearts
are rebellious. We are selfish, that's our problem. And the
fact that we often won't admit our selfishness shows how deep
the pride goes.-- Floyd McClung

I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul ...

A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine. -- Dwight L. Moody

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of
evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you
have done everything, to stand.  -- Ephesians 6:13

Since we are in a spiritual war, we must put on spiritual armor.
More than saying our daily prayers and perfunctorily reading our
daily Scriptures, we must learn to recognize the spiritual armor
God has given us for our spiritual protection and prepare ourselves
for spiritual warfare. We should approach each day, each task, each
Scripture, with a sense of urgency because we know we are at war.
The day of evil will come, so let's be ready to take our stand
using the tools God has supplied and the power He provides.

Father, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me whatever you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.

Into your hands I commend my spirit. I offer it to you with all the love that is in my heart. For I love you, Lord, and so want to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve and with boundless confidence,f or you are my Father. Amen

Prayer by Charles de Foucauld

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. Edgar Watson Howe

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1

Compassion is not for personal glory, just as it is not a private internal emotion. Christian compassion must always motivate us to act in the best interest and for the greater good of those in need, without calling attention to ourselves or our sacrifices. God provides what we need to bless others and takes care of the reward when our goal is to please him and to be used by him to bless others who are in need.