Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
One of the mobile homes in our community stood empty all summer. The owners spruced it up and it was finally sold to an 80-year old widow named Marie. Although Marie was older than most of the people in the park, she seemed very independent, driving around in her little white car and fixing things up in her new home to make it her own.
The first night in her mobile home was also the first night of the "Polar Vortex" that hit New England with a vengeance. Since the realtor had been using the heat for all the open-houses and showings, the propane tank was nearly empty when Marie moved in, and during the deep freeze, the heat failed and all her pipes burst. Being a spunky and independent old lady, Marie hopped into her car and drove back to her previous dwelling which was still on the market...but at least had heat. Now she is back, issuing orders to a parade of plumbers and heating contractors who are busy correcting the problem.
Since I had not yet met this lady, I decided to knock on her door when I walked Penny this morning. (For those of you who don't know Penny, she is a 70 pound brindle-colored pit bull dog.) Anyway, Marie answered my knock on the door and Penny immediately trotted into her house and plopped down on the living room floor as if she was home. I was mortified! "PENNY!!!!" I sternly said. But Marie seemed delighted!
We ended up sharing coffee, books, music (she plays viola) and swapped telephone numbers. She needs some help hanging curtain rods, so I'll go over later with my power drill.
Now, all this was as natural as can be, and not at all "doing my good deed for the day". When we are told to "work out our salvation", Paul is not laying out a program of good-deed-doing in order to somehow "earn" our way to heaven. Jesus paid the price for sin, and no amount of good deeds can add to His Atoning Work.
Indeed, our behavior is the evidence of his Spirit within us. I visited Marie because I WANTED to, not because I HAD to. And Marie ended up ministering to ME, by being kind to my dog, giving me some books to read (I had run out) and sharing some of herself with me.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. ..1 Corinthians 13(NIV)
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS