"Do All You Can"

The cleaning efforts will be going on, in Oklahoma, for a very long time, These families are still looking so shell shocked and lost. I can't even imagine all that they are going through. There have been some bright spots and so many God given miracles, which is awesome, but the truth of the matter is they will need so much help to get back into rebuilt homes and to have their whole town rebuilt as well.

It is wonderful to see all the charitable organizations and institutions that have stepped in. FEMA is there, as well. The head of this organization has been quoted as saying "FEMA won't leave here when the cameras leave". I think that it is kind of sad that he felt the need to say that, but oh well, it is good to have them there.

As a Methodist, I have to say that we have a program that helps in situations like the one in Moore, too. It is called UMCOR. "United Methodist Committee On Relief" UMCOR bases its ministry on words from the Methodist founder, John Wesley. He had a saying that they have taken to heart....

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

UMCOR is usually one of the first groups to show up when a disaster strikes. They go world wide to be Christ's hands and feet in countries that feel so much pain at times. 

UMCOR is funded by the individual Methodist churches as they give their tithe to the conference. Of all monies that are designated to UMCOR, 100% go directly to the hurting and needy. that they have gone out to help. 

John Wesley loved this passage......

1 Corinthians 13:12-13

The Message (MSG)

¹² We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
¹³ But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

I think the part that says "love extravagantly" says it all!  I'd like to think that that is what our UMCOR is doing. We have so many of our people who have left their families and have moved into Oklahoma. They will be there for as long as these sweet, traumatized, uprooted people need them to be. Humbly doing "all the good they can".

I think John Wesley would be smiling if he could see how this group has taken the word of God and put it into action.

Please remember to continue to pray for these poor families and for all the recovery workers as well, as they do the best they can, to "love extravagantly" in Oklahoma!

Blessings!

I wish, I wish, I wish

I wish, I wish, I wish......

Don't we catch ourselves saying these words as our past comes to mind. I wish I hadn't done that or I wish I had've done this. What would people think of me if they knew....., Lord, you want me to do what? You know my past and so do others. How can I be used by you?

How can I be used by you? That is my question as I think of some of the stupid things of my past. There are so many things I would have done differently. So many regrets of missed opportunities. So many times I let myself be led down a wrong path. These thoughts are not from God. These thoughts take my eyes off the things I should be doing and make me feel unworthy.

As children of God we need to keep looking forward. Moving away from our past and moving on toward our goal. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, taught of the "entire sanctification". This speaks of the power of God's grace to move us away from the sin in our lives and push us towards holiness.

Look at Paul. He was a persecutor of the Christians. He was even there at the stoning of Steven. Look what he has to say in Philippians 3:12-14....

I am not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: by no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I am off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Do you think that Paul might have had a greater compassion for the Jews and the Christians because of his past? Maybe all that you have experienced will give you a better understanding of the people God has put in your life. But don't dwell on a past that God has already forgiven. Look what Jesus did for the woman who was going to be stoned in John 8...

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "the sinless one among you, go first; throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you? " No Master". "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin".

Jesus changed her that day. I wonder what she went on to do? How many people she went on to help change because of the forgiving power of Christ?

Sweet friends, don't let your past be your guide. Instead say "what past"? Keep your eyes and your heart looking forward. Remember Christ hasn't condemed you, He has forgiven you and wants you to go on your way and sin no more. With God's help that is exactly what we all can do!

Blessings!

I wish, I wish, I wish......

Don't we catch ourselves saying these words as our past comes to mind. I wish I hadn't done that or I wish I had've done this. What would people think of me if they knew....., Lord, you want me to do what? You know my past and so do others.  How can I be used by you?

How can I be used by you? That is my question as I think of some of the stupid things of my past. There are so many things I would have done differently. So many regrets of missed opportunities. So many times I let myself be led down a wrong path. These thoughts are not from God. These thoughts  take my eyes off the things I should be doing and make me feel unworthy.

As children of God we need to keep looking forward. Moving away from our past and moving on toward our goal. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, taught of the "entire sanctification".
This speaks of the power of God's grace to move us away from the sin in our lives and push us towards holiness.

Look at Paul. He was a persecutor of the Christians. He was even there at the stoning of Steven. Look what he has to say in Philippians 3:12-14....
I am not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: by no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I am off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Do you think that Paul might have had a greater compassion for the Christians because of his past? Maybe all that you have experienced will give you a better understanding of the people God has put in your life. But don't dwell on a past that God has already forgiven. Look what Jesus did for the woman who was going to be stoned in John 8:6-11...

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "the sinless one among you, go first; throw the stone." Bending down again,  he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you? " No Master". "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin".

Jesus changed her that day. I wonder what she went on to do?  How many people she went on to help change because of the forgiving power of Christ?

Sweet friends, don't let your past be your guide. Instead say "what past"?  Keep your eyes and your heart  looking forward. Remember Christ hasn't comdemed you, He has forgiven you and wants you to go on your way and sin no more. With God's help that is exactly what we all can do!