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Compassion (a Timeless Truths blog post)

black hands clasped

After a rough week, what do you most likely crave? More stress, more judgment, or more compassion? The answer is obvious – more compassion. After all, what could be better than talking to a friend who understands what you’re going through? Just having the opportunity to share with someone else what’s on your mind (and heart) can lift the heavy burden you may have been carrying. To know someone else cares about you enough to show you compassion can make all the difference in the world. Your circumstances may not have changed – but since you realize there’s someone else out there who can relate to you and who cares enough to actually show it somehow seems to make the struggles of life just a little bit easier to bear. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (NIV) says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

So, the timeless truth we would do well to remember is that – as children of God – we have something the world needs – compassion – and we would do well to show it to those around us – especially to those who are hurting. Since God has given us comfort (and compassion) when we’ve needed it, we have it available inside our hearts. We only need to let it flow through us and into the lives of others. In so doing, we will be touching other people’s lives with the very love and compassion of God – and that, in and of itself, will make all the difference!

(To read more about God’s love and how He shows it, check out a book I’ve written called “My Journey with God” available here: https://www.amazon.com/My-Journey-God-Ann-Marshall-ebook/dp/B00IKTUFW6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 )

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Juggling Act (a Timeless Truths blog post)

juggling

Have you ever tried to juggle? Perhaps you went to a circus and were amazed at the objects the performer could juggle seemingly effortlessly and you went home and tried to recreate the performance yourself only to discover it wasn’t as easy as it looked.  You may have been motivated to keep trying and eventually discovered that with a lot of practice you got better … not perfect, but certainly better than your initial attempt.  As in all of life, it takes time to get good at something worthwhile.  Oftentimes, we get discouraged too soon.  However, if we continue to make an effort, most likely we will improve.  Has your life gotten really busy?  Have you felt like you were trying to perform a juggling act?  Have you made an attempt to prioritize what’s most important so that particular ball doesn’t get dropped accidentally?  Matthew 6:33 (ICB) says, “The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants …”  So, this timeless truth reveals what our number one priority should be in our lives … putting God first … putting our personal relationship with Him first, making an effort to juggle our lives in such a way that this most important relationship is prioritized, nurtured, and protected from all of the other events going on that would try to distract and detract from what should be the foundation of our lives.  When we choose to put God first we are acknowledging His place in our lives; we are acknowledging He is most important; we are acknowledging our need and our desire for Him to be involved in every area of our lives.  But how do I do that? you may ask.  I work nights, or, I have to sleep when I can … I have a new baby, or, my family responsibilities make it hard if not impossible to put God ahead of everything else.  The answer lies in your heart, not the particular time of day or particular location you choose to spend time alone with God one-on-one in a personal relationship with Him.  It doesn’t have to be difficult.  Very busy people can learn the act of juggling if they put their mind to it, and, perhaps, get creative.  For example, don’t worry about the amount of time as much as the quality of time you spend with God in your personal relationship with Him.  This may mean you only have a few minutes at the beginning of the day (or ending if you so choose) to intently focus on God in prayer and tell Him whatever is on your heart as you simply talk to Him about whatever may be in your heart to say.  It could be just talking to Him about your day and getting his feedback as you stay quiet for a few minutes to listen to hear the Holy Spirit respond … perhaps by giving you the idea of what to do in that situation, perhaps by giving you a sense that He has heard you and He cares about whatever it is you’re going through (good or bad) and He’s just glad you took the time to share it with Him and get His direction of what He would like you to do in that situation.  As your life gets pulled in many different directions, and as you practice your juggling act, don’t worry if you drop the ball now and then … just keep practicing until it gets easier and easier and before you know it you will improve until you don’t even have to think about it … God will naturally be first in your life!

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