A Longing of Your Heart #226

Galatians 5:13 Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.        Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.                                   Romans 5:17 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. (NLT)

When was the last time your reached out to love, forgive, and accept someone? Maybe the question could be; when was the last time you felt loved, forgiven, and accepted? There is a longing of the human heart to experience the unconditional love, forgiveness and acceptance of someone.

The Bible tells us that God extends to all His love, His forgiveness and His acceptance. As God in Christ has met the need of your own life you are to express that same expression of God’s grace to others. The people God places in your life long for the same things you do. They may seem self-sufficient, confident, lacking in struggles and trials, but the basic needs are much in evidence in the depth of their being. God has placed you in relationship with them for a reason. Whether it is a family member, a person you work with, or someone from your church or neighborhood; they still need love, forgiveness and acceptance.

In all likelihood you may be the very person God has given the opportunity to make a difference in that individuals life.

On the other side of the coin God has placed in your life those He will use to show you the unconditional love of Christ, the forgiveness of God and the acceptance you so desperately need. The Bible tells us to “give and it shall be given unto you.”

Why not reach out and be the conduit of God’s unconditional love, forgiveness and acceptance to someone God has placed in your pathway. The world is in incredible need for real community. God has put humans together in unique relationships in order to meet those needs.

Become an observer of needs, a responder to needs, and a receiver or God’s grace to you. The TV commercial said, “reach out and touch someone.” Why not try it.

_________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

I do hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We enjoyed time with our family. All except Collin were at our home sometime during the day. Collin spent Thanksgiving with his Dad in California. We received a call from Collin on Wednesday evening that was not good news. His Dad was in the hospital with what was thought to be a broken leg. Collin was ready to come home to Tempe. Fortunately the leg was not broken and only sprained. He is doing fine. Collin finished Thanksgiving with his Dad and grandparents in CA. 

Johnny was a little eager to eat Thanksgiving Dinner. We were in the kitchen and looked into the dining room and he was up at the table with fork in hand. I just had to take a photo. He does like to eat. Later in the day Burke and Bennett came by to eat some dessert. We sat on the couch and watched "wipeout". We laughed for two hours at the back to back programs. It was a great special time for me. 

On the Friday after Thanksgiving Sandy and I hosted the "Walk Through Bethlehem" display at our pastor's home. He has a very large back yard decorated like Bethlehem. Last year over 50,000 people went through his yard from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. It is a great way to present the Christmas Story. 

I continue to request your prayers. Last Monday I started on the expensive medication that I mentioned in last weeks Encourger. It is a form of chemotherapy. I had forgotten how yucky chemo makes you feel. For a couple of days I did not feel very well. Thank God I only get the injections one time per month unlike the last time when I received the chemo once per week. This chemo will continue likely for the rest of my life. Not real excited about that, but hopefully it will help me continue to do well. 

Sandy has finished her Tuesday women's Bible study. She enjoyed sharing the Word with the women at First Baptist Church of Tempe this fall. I think she will take a break this coming spring because of the new baby. Mentioning the new baby reminds me of the answer to prayers for Mandy, John and the baby. Mandy was 32 weeks on this past Saturday. We are so grateful. The doctors assure us that once at 32 weeks the baby will likely be fine. We would still like a few more weeks to pass. Roger, Mandy and Susan and Collin were all born in December. We expect maybe another December baby. 

I will be preaching at Laveen Baptist Church on January 6th. I have been there several times. Pastor Jerry is on vacation. I look forward to sharing with that wonderful church. Sandy and I are preparing for Quartzsite. The dates are January 20-27. Sandy will teach Sunday School to the entire congregation at the Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church and we will both lead devotionals during the week for the Campers on Mission group. I will preach both Sunday services on January 27th. This is one of the major highlights of our year. I still have several available Sundays to preach. I would love to preach whenever possible. Let me know. 

 Let me know of your prayer requests and it is my plan to answer each email that you send my way. Thanks for your prayers. God bless you and may He make this holiday season very special for you and your family.  ~ DGW