Down through the ages I have taken all the simple acts of steadfast devotion, of obedience in difficulty, of loving service, as an atonement for the loneliness My humanity suffered by that desertion.

   Yet I, who had realized to the full the longing of the Father to save, and His rejection by men, the misunderstanding of His mind and purpose, how could I think that I should not know that desertion too?

   Learn, My children, from these words two lessons. Learn first that I know what loneliness, desertion and solitude mean. Learn that every act of yours of faithfulness is a comfort to My Heart. Learn too that it was to those deserters I gave the task of bringing My Message to mankind. To those deserters, those fearful ones, I gave My Power to heal, to raise to life.

   Earth’s successes are not the ones I use for the great work of My Kingdom. “They all forsook Him and fled.” Learn My tender understanding and pardon of human frailty. Not until man has failed has he learned true humility. And it is only the humble who can inherit the earth.


><//>--------------------Prayer for the Day

Father, we pray that we may be truly humble and yet have self-respect through Your association and because of Your grace placed upon us by Your personal choice. We pray that we may see that which is of You in ourselves as well as the bad. Amen.


A Disciple's Reflections:  God-Pleaser or People-Pleaser – It’s Our Choice.

"As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ." 
 – Galatians 1:9-10

Beloved, no one wants to be known as a people pleaser.

In today's self-help book generation, we all know that being a "people pleaser" is a role assumed within a dysfunctional family system where a person ignores their own needs in order to win the approval of others. Since this comes at a high personal cost, it can't go on forever. Eventually, the "people pleaser" assumes a passive-aggressive stance toward life – they say or do one thing in front of people, and then act aggressively (usually in an unhealthy way) behind people's back.

Having said that, there are two more things to say. First, even though no one wants to BE a people pleaser, everyone else kind of likes the attention and care they receive when they are on the right side of the pleaser. And second, whether we like it or not, many of us find it very difficult to step outside of the people pleasing behaviors. We find ourselves doing it again and again.

Paul seems to have understood the temptation to please people – to say what they wanted to hear, to insure that others could remain within their comfort zones – but he also understood that there comes a time when the truth must prevail. It must even if the truth comes at the price of upsetting someone, or even turning his or her worldview upside down.

By giving up my personal people pleasing ways for the love of the truth I have lost much.  I have lost friends and even more painful I have lost family.  I was once at a psychologist's office with someone I was hoping to heal a relationship.  This person is extremely important to me, and remains so in my prayers.

The psychologist shared with me that this person I was with has created a reality in her own that made it possible for her to be comfortable.  She put a most favorable light on her own behavior – she simply declared herself good.  Unfortunately, this reality was a false one.  The problem is that anyone who doesn't fit into or agree with this false reality are judged, held in contempt and rejected.  I have come to learn that only God can free this person from that which holds her mind and blinds her sight to the terrible harm this deceitful life had cause herself and all who depended upon and love her.

I deeply desire the fellowship of this person and others who have been infected with her disease.  All I have to do is proclaim some truth in a circumstance and they no longer with to be with me.  All the while, blaming me for our disaffection.  Only our Savior can save these people and keep alive my hope for them.

In our relationships with others, we have to constantly discern whether we are at odds over trivia or at odds over the truth. When the truth is it stake – not only the truth about the gospel but also the truth about living life on life's terms, the truth about what is good, healthy, fair and just – there are times when conflict is going to be inevitable.

Let us just take a look at what Jesus did when as they were lowering the invalid trough the roof to be healed Jesus' mother and brothers were outside blocked by the crowd around this house.  Jesus knew exactly what was on His family's mind.  Scripture tells us the pharoses were saying the Jesus had a demon, and Mary was becoming afraid and was hoping to talk sense to Him.  Jesus refused her and audience and seeing all who were listening to His word and declared, "Here are my mother and my brothers!". – Mark 3: 20-34

In those times when the lovers of truth are accused and rejected, God is on the side of the truth and comforts His own.   Let us know that God resides with all who love the truth, and the evil spirits dwell with all who despise it. There can be no Jesus without the truth in all our affairs.  Let us remember, Jesus said for all to hear, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." – John 14: 6

Let us, therefore, come to love and seek the truth in all things.  May we come to love the truth more than we love ourselves. Then, and only then, may we be just in our dealing with others.  Then, and only then, are we truly loving Messiah. 

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, we know the temptation to please people, regardless of the cost to ourselves or to the truth. Save us from blind devotion to what others think about us. Help us to remember that respect and integrity are more valuable and enduring than popularity and ego. Enable us to be devoted to the truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.


No Greater Love

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
– John 15:13 (NIV)

As the words of a song goes, "What the world needs now is love...". And the greatest love of all is a sacrificial love. The kind of love that would put others before our own selves; even unto death. We saw this type sacrifice by many last year on September 11th. And this was not just a matter of duty, but rather, an act of love that most humans cannot comprehend. Sure, most people love their families and their friends, but few would die for them. Many practice the love of self above all things. And where there is selfishness in "love", there is strife. We need to begin to understand the power of love, which God Himself demonstrated by sending His Son to die for a lost and unloving world. And then the healing can begin...

Quite some time back a little girl was playing in the family barn when she fell from the loft and sustained a very serious gash. She ran to the house where her father and mother determined the injury to be quite severe and they sent for the doctor to come at once. Upon the doctor's arrival the girl was in grave condition and though he could stop the bleeding the girl would need a transfusion to survive. Her older brother was the only one with the correct blood type and he was asked if he would give some of his blood so that his sister could live? After brief consideration, the boy agreed. As a result, the girl was saved from certain death. Later that evening, with his sister completely out of danger, the boy asked his mother and father when he would die. You see this boy had thought that by giving his blood for his sister's transfusion that he would die in her place! Greater love has no one than this...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
– John 3:16 (NIV)


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Please have a blessed day, be hopeful, be encouraged, and know you are not alone.

“God Calling” compiled by A. J. Russell.
"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" Hazelton – adapted.
Gregg Candelaria writes “No Greater Love.”
Barry Gray writes A Disciple’s Reflections