GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS AND YOUR HEART. COMPASSION? COMPASSION FATIQUE? MAKE TODAY COUNT!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (FUNERAL, during funeral I give small stone with MTC on them… MAKE TODAY COUNT)
Today we hear a lot about “PAY IT FORWARD!” I love this idea. When I hear the most about PAY IT FORWARD, it is normally someone did something special for me. Very rarely have I heard, I paid it forward for another. KINDNESS is a unique trait of human beings. You do not have to have money to do this. It could be as easy as holding a door, helping carry a load, sharing a smile. Kindness could be allowing a car to pull out. (NEVER MAKE A STRONG MOTION, IF YOU DO AND THEY PULL OUT AND A CAR HITS THEM, YOU CAN BE LIABLE?)
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? WHY DON’T YOU DO SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD DO?
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I saw an old man struggling at KFC. He had a walking stick and two plates of food. He was going to have difficulty carrying his food. He was afraid of falling without his stick. What was he going to do? I felt compelled to help him. When I finished I when over and sat down next to him and we started talking. His wife of 62 years had recently been put in the rest home. He was lonely and afraid. The tears started running down his face and I just listened as he poured out his heart. I started crying too. I thanked him, but I felt the need to pray for him. I asked permission, he held his hand out and we cried and prayed together. As I was leaving a lady at the next table thanked me for caring.
Two things we seem to be lacking today: EMOTIONS AND PASSION…
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
WE MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR THE EASY QUICK WAY? NOT THE JOURNEY OF COMPASSION?
I was at a huge Nashville Hospital visiting a dear friend. We had a super visit, While waiting for an elevation I looked of down town Nashville. I saw a little old black lady sitting in a wheelchair looking out the window. She could not walk. I noticed she was quietly crying. I was touched, but when the elevator opened I over rode the emotions I was feeling. I felt I should listen to her story. I got on the elevator and rode down to the first floor and was going out the door. I had to return. I might have prayed she would be gone. The door opened and the cripple little black lady was staring out the window and tears running across her cheeks. I sat down next to her and patted her hands. She never looked up. I could feel her pain. I noticed both of her legs was gone. She explained to me the doctors had to cut her legs off. Her family lived hours away and the rarely came to see her. I sat there 2 hours and we cried together. We talked, I mainly just listened to her. She had been a singer at her church. The young people never knew her. I quoted her some verses of comfort. I got up to leave and walked to the elevator. She called me back to her side. She looked up at me and told me my white hair was beautiful. Then she asked me: SIR, ARE YOU AN ANGEL? WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MICHAEL? I explained, I AM NOT AN ANGEL, MY NAME DOES NOT MATTER, I JUST LOVE JESUS. She said again: I THINK GOD SENT YOU TO ME, YOU HAVE TO BE AN ANGEL? I cried all the way home. HOW MANY OLD PEOPLE JUST NEED A PERSON TO LISTEN? PAY IT FORWARD!
What motives us? INVESTING IN PEOPLE COULD BE THE BEST THING? How many kids were up all night. Mom and dad were drunk, high on drugs, screaming and fighting. The kid goes to bed in great fear and praying the best they know how. The kid is dirty and smell? The kid may be hungry and tired. He lays his head on the desk and other kids laugh at him? COULD SOMEONE ALLOW GOD TO USE THEM SOME WAY?
There was a successful pastor this week. The numbers have grown, the budget increased. He sees his wife suffering? The kids have made great sacrifices. He feels like a failure. No one has said a good word to him. Complain, complain. The music is too loud? The songs sound like funeral music? The preacher’s tie does not match his suit. This week the defeated pastor loaded a gun and placed it to his head? Could God have used someone to encourage him?
Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 11:25 (MSG) The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR A PEOPLE AND A PLACE, NEGATIVE PEOPLE CAN FIND A BIG PROBLEM FOR EVERY SOLUTION.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
SURE, OUR DAYS ARE FULL OF TROUBLE… OUR GOD HAS 5 SMOOTH STONES FOR YOUR GIANT.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
YEARS AGO I HAD A FRIEND THATWOULD TELL ME: GOD SHOULD GIVE US A WARNING THAT DEATH IS COMING. HE SAID: MAYBE GOD SHOULD TELL US A MONTH IN ADVANCE, OR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE THAT DEATH WAS COMING. THEN WE WOULD HAVE TIME TO CHANGE. HE SAID LIKE A TWO MINUTE WARNING AT A FOOTBALL GAME.
Well, God did warn us: THERE ARE TWO APPOINTMENTS SET… Seems we tend to lose LIVING in the daily menial choices we make.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
1989, 30 years ago we accepted the pastorate of this church in Smiths Grove. The next year my son Wade was 14, a freshman at Warren East High School.
I was in Wade’s room dumping out the garbage can. I knew he was working on a poem for his English class. His garbage can was full of discarded attempts of poems. The wadded up papers filled the can. On the top was this poem. I pulled it out and read it. This poem has been published several times.
MAKES ME THINK!
BY WADE MARTIN HUGHES, JR.
DEATH IS SOMETHING THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE,
NOW OR LATER FOR YOU AND ME.
I WONDER HOW?
AND I WONDER WHY?
ACCIDENTLY? OR NATURUALLY?
HOW WILL I DIE?
I GUESS THIS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HOW I WILL LIVE?
LIFE IS NOT ONLY TAKE, BUT IT IS ALSO A TIME TO GIVE.
WITHOUT LOVE, AND WITHOUT FRIENDS,
LIFE WOULD BE USELESS TO ALL ENDS.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR LAST BREATH?
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF DEATH.
IS IT WITH EASE?
OR IS IT WITH GREAT PAIN?
IS IT ALL LOSS?
OR IS IT GREAT GAIN?
LIFE IS SO SHORT,
DO WHAT YOU CAN.DO SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HELP YOUR FELLOW MAN.
DEATH MAY COME WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT!
SO PLEASE TREAT EACH DAY
WITH A GREAT DEAL OF LOVE AND RESPECT.
THE CERTAINITY OF UNCERTAINITY…
My Dad is 88 and has pastored 67 years, 18 churches in 5 states. I ask him the other day, Dad what have you learned in 88 years. He said: Son nothing surprises me anymore. Two of my greatest lessons have been: #1. I have learned how sweet and wonderful and giving and understanding people can be. He thought for a few seconds and then said: #2. I am amazed at how mean spirited and cruel people can be.
Well, he went on to say: SOMETIMES IT IS THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND AND THEN ARE MEAN.
HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED GLOVES? GLOVES ON A DOCTOR’S HANDS? GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Death is always an UNEXPECTED TWIST in our journey. THE BEST LAID PLANS MAY NEVER BE ACCOMPLISHED. There may be storms that blow? The facts we know may just be our perspective and they may be invalid.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
THE WORSE THING WE COULD EVER CONCLUDE IS I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. PROCRASTINATION IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE.
I can never understand life or death? Life is always unexpected even if we realize; LIFE IS TEMPORARY AT BEST.
THE GREAT HARRY HOUDINI… the most well know escapist, Houdini said: I THERE IS A WAY TO ESCAPE DEATH, I WILL FIND IT AND I SHALL RETURN. HOUDINI DIED OCTOBER 31, 1926… He left seal papers that only he would know, so when he returned everyone would know. IN THE LAST 83 YEARS HARRY HOUDINI IS STILL DEAD.
TODAY: FROM DUST TO DUST, EARTH TO EARTH AND ASHES TO ASHES…
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
MAKE TODAY COUNT…. There is a lesson o be learned for those that remain? WILL WE LEARN IT?
MAKE TODAY COUNT! TRY A LITTLE HARDER. GIVE A LITTLE MORE. REACH A LITTLE LOWER TO THE CAST DOWN. LOVE THE UNLOVABLE… THE PERSON THAT NEEDS YOUR LOVE THE MOST DESERVES IT THE LEAST. INVEST IN THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
