If We Knew Each Other

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the heart of all the childres of men). 1 Kings 8:39

While some of us claim to have an open mind we have a tendency to shut it to people we don't like and to their failures. This could be because we don't really know them.

If we understood the causes of one's failures, we would be less critical of him or her. Let us, therefore, be more eager to find an explanation of one's faults.

If we knew each other better, we would love each other more; we would be more tolerant, more forgiving, and more helpful. There are so many hidden causes we don't know. All we see are the effects. It is easy to jump to conclusions; but efore yo do, try jumping into his shoes and walk awhile. Oh, how those shoes mght pinch. You just might turn out to be the limpingest fellow on the street.

TO KNOW ALL IS TO FORGIVE ALL

If I knew you and you knew me,

As each one knows his own self, we

Could look each other in the face

And see therein a truer grace.

Life has so many hidden woes,

So many thorns for every rose;

The ""why" of things our hearts would see.

If I knew you and you knew me.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must - but don't you quit.

THE CRITICIZED PREACHER

If he's young he lacks experience; if his hair is gray, he's too old.

If he speaks from notes, he has canned sermons; if he is extemporaneous, he wonder.

If he spends time in his study, he neglects the people; if he visit, he's a gadabout.

If he is attentive to the poor, he's playing to the grandstand; if to the wealthy, he's trying to butter his bread.

If he suggests improvements, he's a dictator; if he dosen't. he's short of vision.

If he condemns wrong, he's cranky and intolerant; if he dosen't, he is a compromiser.

If he preaches thirty-five minutes, he's windy; if less he's lazy.

If he preaches truth, he's offensive; if not, he's a hypocrite.

If he fails to please everyone, he's hurting the church; if he does, he has no convictions.

If he preaches on giving, he's a money grabber; if he dosen't, he's not developing the people.

And some folks think the preacher has an easy time.

But- you can mke it easier for him and happier for yourself by exercising a little more tolerance.



THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

God bless us with leaders of vision - who sees as God sees. To follow you I'm not content , until I know which way you went.

Church Service

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1Corinthians 12:12

Our role in Christ's body demands our attention. God never called us to be spectators. He called us to be participants. We unite with believers to know and do the will and work of God. He never intended for us to function alone.

We know that we are to join with Christ's body because he instructs us to do so. When we believe on and receive Jesus Chist, we become a permanent part of God's family. Participation is not optional. God designed his body for our personal well-being and to ensure effectiveness in our mission to the world.

When a united group has the same goals, common purposes are achieved. So we join with God's people to grow in our knowledge of him, to be encouraged in our faith, and to receive needed support individually and as a body to accomplish his will in our generation.

The mission of the church, simply stated, is threefold - evangelize, assimilate, and nurture. How well do our church fulfill its calling? How well are we contributing to its success? How effectively are we investing ourselves in Christ's ministry? Christian leaders should set aside time for church and personal ministry. We all have a responsibility to pull our weight in this family.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY
One of the main reasons we need our church is to take our attention off our own needs. Faithfulness in your church life will validate your public life.

CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST

While efforts has nothing to do with your salvation, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. At least eight times in the New Testament we are told to "make every effort" in our growth toward becoming like Jesus. We have three resopnsibilities in becoming like Christ.

First, we must choose to let go of old ways of acting.

Second, we must change the way we think.

Third, we must "put on" the character of Christ by developing new godly habits.

Life has so amny hidden woes, so many thorns for every rose; The "why" of things our hearts would see, if I knew you and you knew me.


THROUGH FOR TODAY
To know all is to forgve all if I knew you and you knew me. As each one knows his own self, we could liik each other in the face and see therein a truer grace.

OPEN HOUSE FOR FRIENDS

Always keep a open heart and open house for friends. Also, open hands and open time. "Do not keep the alabaster box of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go. The flowers you mean to send for their coffin, send to brighten ans sweeten their homes before they leave them.

"Let us learn to anoint our friends while they are yet among the living. Post-mortem kindness does not cheer the burdened heart; flowers on the coffin cast no fragrance backward ove the weary way."

Of what shall a perosn make room in his house, if he has not room for friends? And of what shall he have time, if he has not time for friends?

True, heplfuland beautiful friendship consist of knit souls like "the soul of Jonathan was jnit with the soulof David." This demands more that the shaking of hands and nodding of heads.


THOUGHT FOR TODAY
There is one comforting thing about loneliness, it is better to be alone than to be in bad company. Nevertheless, this is still true:
"Two are better than one" - provided it's the right two.

I HAVE THE EDGE

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: For a living dog is better that a dead lion. (Ecclesiastes 9:4)

I have the edge, for I have life. Here is an outline of life: Tender Teens, Teachable Twenties, Tireless Thirties, Fiery Forties, Forceful Fifties, Serious Sixties, Sacred Seventies, Aching Eighties, Nappy Nineties... shortening breath, Death.

As long as I stay above the latter, there is still hope for me. For where there's life there's hope. For this reason, a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Life is an opportunity to improve - every today is another chance.

Life lets me think - may my thoughts be constructive, elevating and uplifting.

Life lets me talk - may my efforts center on the things that count the most and last the longest.

For a greater edge and more fruitful living, let each look to God who is the giver of life.

For He holds the key.

Indeed, life is a story 1 volumes three:

The Past

The Present

The Yet-to-be

The first is finished and laid away,

The second we're reading day by day,

The third and last of volume three

Is locked from sight;

God holds the key.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

One of the secerts of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.