How many times have you heard this phrase? "Who Cares? I sure don't!" I am sorry to admit this, but I have said it.
You and I live in a world that tugs at our emotions all day long. We see on the news, we read on Facebook, we read it in a text message and then finally our brain goes - "Enough! I don't care!"
Now I've admitted this before, so don't be shocked when I say, "I'm not a very merciful person." That doesn't mean I don't have mercy. It's just not my first reaction to most situations. I am very compassionate and quite often feel empathy and sympathy for others. Early in my ministry, I thought I was broken or somehow faulty. With the help of good friends and the Holy Spirit, I discover, it's how God made me. Once I embraced that, I could be a better friend to others.
Friendship is often in the eye of the beholder. They define what friendship is, then surround themselves with people who fit that definition. As followers of Jesus, you and I are charged to fulfill Christ's definition of what it means to be a friend.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Now obviously this blog isn't long enough for me to address this whole subject thoroughly. But let's take one step and see what happens.
Choose to care.
Rather than excusing your absence or lack of attention to someones need. Ask yourself, "What can I do?" After you answer that question - do it. Simple but hard - I know.
Offer your help, even if they don't want it.
Do something that can help, even if they didn't ask for it.
Do your best and pray. (That gets more done than anything else.)
Be available even when it is inconvenient.
Commit to the journey, even if all you can do is go along for the ride.
Caring isn't so much about what you can do; it's about being there anyway.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to care about others more. AMEN
You and I live in a world that tugs at our emotions all day long. We see on the news, we read on Facebook, we read it in a text message and then finally our brain goes - "Enough! I don't care!"
Now I've admitted this before, so don't be shocked when I say, "I'm not a very merciful person." That doesn't mean I don't have mercy. It's just not my first reaction to most situations. I am very compassionate and quite often feel empathy and sympathy for others. Early in my ministry, I thought I was broken or somehow faulty. With the help of good friends and the Holy Spirit, I discover, it's how God made me. Once I embraced that, I could be a better friend to others.
Friendship is often in the eye of the beholder. They define what friendship is, then surround themselves with people who fit that definition. As followers of Jesus, you and I are charged to fulfill Christ's definition of what it means to be a friend.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Now obviously this blog isn't long enough for me to address this whole subject thoroughly. But let's take one step and see what happens.
Choose to care.
Rather than excusing your absence or lack of attention to someones need. Ask yourself, "What can I do?" After you answer that question - do it. Simple but hard - I know.
Offer your help, even if they don't want it.
Do something that can help, even if they didn't ask for it.
Do your best and pray. (That gets more done than anything else.)
Be available even when it is inconvenient.
Commit to the journey, even if all you can do is go along for the ride.
Caring isn't so much about what you can do; it's about being there anyway.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to care about others more. AMEN
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