copyright Millie Plastaras 10/1/2002

A person might have to suffer even when it is unfair,
but if he thinks of God and stands the pain, God is pleased.
If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason
to praise you for being patient in your punishment.
But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient,
then God is pleased. This is what you were called to
do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you
an example to follow. So you should do as he did.
1 Peter 2:19-21

There are some very important concepts we do not
hear spoken of very much anymore. I wonder why
we ever stopped? Could it be the media, the movies,
the magazines, the powers that be, have been
reprogramming our thinking little by little?

Could it be we have gotten away from some very
important ideas about life choices? Could it be
that our thinking is not based on thoughts of love
for others, but merely on our own mindset and desires?

I do believe things have changed,because everyplace I look today,
I see unresolved anger, unforgiveness, and cold hearts.
People have closed themselves off because of past
pain, and this has ruled their lives in far more ways
than they can imagine. People are ruled by emotions,
battered by depression, longing for satisfying relationships,
yet feeling unfulfilled and lonely.

Shame
People have lost their conscience. A sense of shame
that comes when they know they have done something
wrong. They justify it in every conceivable way.
It is my right to feel this way, it is someone else's fault,
it is OK if I do what I want to do, it is my life.
People base their decisions on selfish motives,
without consider the eternal consequences,
or even present consequences.

Whatever we do in this life returns to us.
Whatever we sow in the lives of others is what we get back.

If we sow strife, that is what we will get back.

If we sow kindness we will get kindness back.

If we sow anger we will get that back.

What you sow... you reap.

Be kind to people even when you don't think they
deserve it. Kindness is from the heart of God,
how can we do less than our best?

What if that dear person you love, but are fighting
with was gone tomorrow? How would you feel about
how you have talked to them? Would you change
anything? Are you allowing that still small voice
to speak to you. Or are you reacting to what people
say with a defensive posture that says my feelings
come first. Does this reflect Jesus?

Compassion
Compassion is to feel sympathy,
or empathy for what someone else is going through.
To the point, we wish to help in any way we can,
whether through prayer or some other means of
support. This is so important. Sometimes we get
so caught up in our own woes, troubles, sorrows,
that we don't have any resources left to help anyone
else. This is directly in controversy to the Bible,
who tells us we are not only to cast our burdens on him,
but to go out and minister to others. It is no witness
at all to be defeated all the time, it is no different from
someone in the world. We have to follow the concepts
that Jesus taught to be overcomers, and not carry
these burdens, nor the past with us.

Care about what others are going through.
We were put on this earth, not as an island,
but a community, reach out and love each other
while there is time.

Forgiveness
This is a rarity anymore. Seems like
if you do something wrong once, then people write you off
as if you didn't exist. Perhaps because of their own
past hurts, it makes them more defensive. But this
is one of the most powerful tools satan has because
it divides Christians, and families, and friends.
Keeps us from fellow shipping, encouraging each other.
It is a tool to wedge apart people so they cannot agree
in prayer, or join together to minister to a larger degree.

Forgive people even if they don't ask, even if they do
not deserve it. Because Jesus forgives us. How can
we do less? Are we better than God?

This wrong thinking has to stop.

Because all of these things are totally
changing the churches in this country, and definitely
the families. Everyone is so disconnected and selfish.
Everyone has a history they carry around with them
like a prize. They treat it as if carrying past issues
around were a vital function. It is not. Jesus said
the past was the past. That we shouldn't worry
about tomorrow. Sufficient unto today are the problems
thereof.

Three little words, shame, compassion, forgiveness.
Why don't we hear these anymore?
They are vital to the survival of human relationships.

Search your heart, and see what changes you
need to make, and ask the Lord Jesus to help you make them.
If you want to succeed in life, have a victorious mind,
and enjoy your life, you must allow these traits to be
part of you.

You must surrender selfish motives, and seek
the high road, through Jesus Christ.

Not my will, but thine be done, should be the cry of our heart.

Jesus, how precious the name.
He gave His life for you and me.
How can we give less, than all of ourselves.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father whom
is in heaven.

Do they see light in you?

Let your life be a reflection of Jesus in You,
working in you, transforming you, making you
a new life, with new thinking and a new heart
because of your surrender and focus on Jesus Christ.

remember

Only one life will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last