Am I Compassionate?

“We know that compassion means taking pity on the condition of others. To be compassionate is to be merciful, to be filled with sympathy and mercy. Compassion cares. In fact, it cares deeply. And it prays, thinks, searches, and seeks to help those in need with what they need. And it does the work required to give the care, even when tired, even late into the night, even all night. It stems from genuine concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

As I thought about compassion I realized it was easier for me to feel compassion toward people I didn't know, or didn't know well, rather than toward my own family. I can feel compassion toward a family that I knew over 10 years ago that is going through a trying time right now after their son was involved in an accident. I can feel compassion toward a family I've never met that is adopting special needs kids. I can feel compassion toward the mom I see in the library struggling with her little kids. But, do I feel compassion for my own family when they are hurt, sick, or just having a bad day? Why does it seem harder to show compassion toward those we are around every day?

It is said many times in Scripture that Jesus was “moved with compassion”. It is usually used toward someone that is sick or needs to be healed in some way. In Mark 6:30-3, Jesus showed compassion toward his apostles, the ones that were with him, ministering with him, every day. It doesn't use this phrase, but as the apostles are gathering together and telling Jesus all that they have been doing (they have been busy) and all they had taught, Jesus comes along side them and says “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” It goes on to say that the apostles had been so busy with so many people that they hadn't even eaten. Here the apostles had been showing compassion for so many people that they weren't thinking about themselves at all. Jesus showed compassion and offered them to rest. He told them to get in a boat and go to a deserted place. This was a great plan, but if you read on in the story you'll see that the multitude of people saw that they were leaving and they ran to the cities and beat the apostles and Jesus there. But, read on to verse 34 and it says “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” (emphasis added) I read this and my selfish, fleshly mind says “well He didn't really have compassion for them. Here He told them to get away so they could rest, but as soon as someone was there needing help He put them to work”. But, as I read this more, I don't see anywhere that it says the apostles complained or whined about helping these people. I know later in the chapter when they suggest that Jesus send the people away that some people look at that as they are tired of them and want them to go. As Elizabeth George points out in her book, the disciples weren't trying to push the people away. They realized this was a deserted place and there was no food there. The disciples were tired and hungry themselves, but they were showing compassion toward the other people. They knew these people needed to go home so they could eat.

If you go on in the passage you see in verse 45 you see that Jesus did send the disciples away in a boat again. He sent them on ahead so He could send the multitude away. Then He took the time alone to pray. He then saw that the boat was struggling against the wind. He could have just calmed the wind from the shore, but He walked out onto the water to the boat so that His disciples could understand His deity. He had compassion toward his disciples enough that He not only took care of them, but He wanted them to know who He really was.

If I follow Jesus as my example, then even when I'm tired, hungry and just feel like I'm at the end of my rope, I can still show compassion to those around me. I need to also remember that my strength comes from the Lord! 

Am I Available?

Are you available? Last time I talked about being approachable. Elizabeth makes the distinction of approachability and availability in this way...."Approachability has the idea of a passive, friendly attitude....Availability has a more active posture. It often takes the initiative to reach out. The available person is a ready person, prepared and eager to respond when she believes she can help and has something to give."

Do you have a mentor? Someone that is helping you grow as a Christian? Over the years I have prayed at different times that God would send someone to me that would be a mentor to me. Most of those times he has ended up sending someone my direction that I was able to mentor. I do think I probably learned more in that way than if someone would have been mentoring me. Even when we don't have a mentor, we still have the ultimate mentor and example in Jesus. "No one is more available than He is. He is ever-present."

I ask about a mentor because in order to be a mentor you have to be available. Jesus is our perfect example of everything. He is definitely the one we should look to about being available. Even when Jesus was busy with one thing he was always available for whatever else came up. Being available is demanding. Even Jesus had to take times of rest and refresh so he could still be available to others. Elizabeth asks in her book if you sometimes feel by the end of the day that everyone has been looking for you and needing your help. There are times I feel that way as soon as my feet hit the floor. As I said Jesus even needed times of rest, but He also was an early riser and refreshed each morning by talking to His Father. He found a quiet spot and would get His direction for each day from God. I can't say I'm the best to be writing about that part. If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a morning person. Most mornings the kids are awake by 6 or shortly after, but they are not allowed to come out of their rooms until 7. Most mornings I am not even out of bed by the time they come out of their rooms. Oh I have tried time and time again to get up early, but something always discourages me and I give up within a day or two. I know this post isn't about getting up early, but if I want to be able to be available to others during the day, but not get overwhelmed and exhausted then I need to be spending the time with my Heavenly Father so I know what HE wants me to do each day so I can be available to the ones that do need me. If pray refreshed Jesus then it will refresh me. As Elizabeth points out, "It's right and it's Christlike to be available, but you can't go every place or minister to every need. So make sure you get clear direction for each new day. Start by praying. Like Jesus, check in with the Father for His lead. Then begin at home by being available to your family."

That last part really gets me. I can say to myself, "I am home all day. Of course I'm available to my family." But, am I really available to them or am I just doing the things that I think need to be done? When someone wants a book read to them or to play a game or just listen to something they have to say, do I give them my full attention? My home, my family, is my first ministry right now. Do they know that I am available for them?

I thought it was funny when Elizabeth says in the book, "Life and ministry are never simple. That's because people are involved. Maybe if you cloistered yourself in a monastery somewhere, things might be much simpler." I had to laugh because she is so right. It's not easy. And there have been times I have just wanted to run away and be alone. An island with no one else around, no busyness, no interruptions and distractions. But, I know me....I wouldn't be able to handle the quiet for long. I would eventually get lonely and want someone to talk to. So, I guess I just have to deal with people. :-) But, God also didn't want us to just go off and be alone. What good would that do to build His Kingdom? How could I help others and tell others about Christ if I was all alone? "To be blessed --and a blessing--be available."

There are people all around that just need someone to listen to them. They need a caring heart to give them a kind word. They are just looking for someone to sympathize with them. These are the people that we need to be reaching out to, to be available to. We never know when a relationship starts what will come of it. Maybe it will end terribly, but what if it ends with that person starting a relationship with Christ. Yes, it can be draining to be available just to hear someone talk about how "bad" their life is, but maybe listening to them will help them see Christ. And maybe they will eventually see the one that can really help them. We need to be the ones that are asking God how we can be available. Elizabeth closes the chapter with this...."Prayer is the perfect place to start! Ask God to open your heart, your eyes, and your ears -- maybe even your wallet-- to others. Make it a daily goal to be friendly, to smile, to be ready and available to reflect the big heart of Jesus."

Going back to the beginning....do you have a mentor? Are you a mentor for someone else? If you're not, I encourage you to ask God to bring someone into your life that you can be available to. Whether it's your own kids, a neighbor, a friend or someone you haven't even met yet. Like I said, we are dealing with people so sometimes it may not work out in the end like you hope, but all we can pray for is that God will use us in someone else's life so that they can see Him.

Am I Approachable?

I have started reading a book by Elizabeth George called "A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus - 30 Days to Christlike Character". I decided there was a lot to go through in just 30 days and if I really wanted to meditate on each character trait then I would need to take longer. I am going to try to do 30 weeks to Christlike Character.

"Jesus is not some celestial untouchable superstar. He's a person who has lived where we live, faced what we face, and felt what we feel. That's why we can look to Him as a model of Christian behavior." I think it is sometimes hard to remember that Jesus did live on this earth and even though He still had his divine nature he also felt and experienced things as any human does.

It is so easy these days to "talk" to someone if we want to. We can call, text, e-mail, post, tweet and yes, we can still even send letters. Sometimes when we want to talk to someone (like customer service to take care of a problem) we can't reach the person we need. God is not like that. He is available 24/7. As a child of God, I can be in His presence any time I want. I can approach God any time I want. He is never too busy for me.

"He (Jesus) never seemed to allow what was urgent to get in the way of what was important." Elizabeth uses the events of Mark 2:1-5 to demonstrate how Jesus modeled this. This is the time that Jesus was preaching to a packed house and some friends of a paralytic man brought him to the house to be healed. Jesus didn't get mad at the men. He could have told them He was busy and didn't have time for this man. He was preaching to these people and it was "time" for that. He had an urgent message for these people. It wasn't time for Him to heal this man. But, He didn't react that way. He stopped His preaching and healed the man.

When I think about doing what is urgent or what is important, I think about the events of Luke 10-38-42, when Jesus visited Mary and Martha. Martha was busy doing what was urgent - the cooking, cleaning, hostessing. But, Mary chose to do what was important. She chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teaching. I find myself, most days, being more like Martha than Mary. I busy myself with the things that I think are urgent and need to be done, but I tend to neglect the important things - spending time with God, my husband, my kids and others that I can be reaching out to and ministering to.

"From the story of the paralytic and his friends, who made sure he had an opportunity to meet with Jesus, and from numerous other instances in the Gospels, Jesus teaches His followers to be careful not to allow crowds, packed schedules, and busyness to get in the way of people who truly need help. They are what's important. You'll always have something that needs immediate, urgent attention. That's life! But ask God to give you discernment so you don't ignore sincere cries for help. Ask Him, "How would You want me to treat this person?'"

If I am busy with the urgent things then people who are important are not going to find me to be approachable. "To become more like Jesus, purpose and pray to be approachable like He was...and still is to you today and every day." Do not get discouraged by the ones that do approach you and take your time, but do not take your advice. Jesus had this happen many times also. Elizabeth notes about the events in Mark 10:17-22 where the man approaches Jesus and asks how to inherit eternal life. Jesus knew the man valued his money and possessions more than God, but He gave the man the advice knowing the man wouldn't follow Him. There will be people that do this to us, too. We can choose to shy away from being approachable to others, or we can choose to be like Christ and still hold our arms open. "God has gifted and prepared you with the help you can give to so many others who are sincere and desperately need what you have to offer!.........pray for them (the ones that are insincere) and ask God to again give you a heart that seeks to follow Jesus and be approachable. After all, one of the 12 disciples betrayed Jesus and yet Jesus still gave His life and blood as a ransom for those who approach the cross."

Desire For More

I want to know God more. Does that mean I pick up my Bible every day and read it? No. I want to be someone that others thinks of as a prayer warrior. Does that mean I pray for hours a day? No. Does it mean I even think to pray first in all situations? No. I want to be a better wife, mom, pastor's wife, friend, etc.... Does this mean I look in the Bible to know how to do that? No.

When Paul and I were dating we started reading the book of Proverbs together. Each day we would read one chapter and each pick a verse that we liked and tell why. I'll admit, when we started it I liked the reading together, but I didn't always like picking a verse. That meant I had to show how much I didn't know about what it was saying. As we did this, I was surprised at how much it did make sense to me when I really read it. And I enjoyed learning more and growing more. Then when I left in the fall for a year of college at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, I tried getting into the habit of doing daily devotions. I struggled then and still struggle today with doing devotions. I always have an excuse...I'm not a morning person, I have 4 kids, I homeschool, I have so much to do around the house and church, and on and on I could go. What I have learned is that if I don't make it a priority to be in God's Word then I won't do it.

We had the privilege of being at my parent's church this last Sunday. Their pastor preached through the whole book of John in one message! Paul admitted he wouldn't be able to do it. :-) Pastor White conveyed a “Portrait of God” with one point from each chapter. I have heard a lot of people suggest that the book of John is a good place to start when a new believer wants to read the Bible. I now have a desire to go through each of his points from John and study them out more. I am hoping in this next year to really commit to reading the Bible. Not because I HAVE to, but because I WANT to! I want to learn more about God. I want to grow. I want to be able to say that I am fully trusting in God to get me through whatever I am facing each day. Will you join me this year in diving into God's Word? Will you join me in learning more about Him and trusting Him more? I hope you will. I am going to be working on a reading schedule for the ladies to do together so we can keep each other accountable and grow together. I hope you will consider joining me. 

Bitter-Sweet Day

Disclaimer: Sorry, I don't like the way the text looks on this post, but it is too late to mess with it. :-)

For those of you that know me, you know that I am NOT an early riser. Paul was up between 5 and 5:30 so he could go hunting. The kids were awake before 6. I'm sure none of that surprises you, but It may surprise you to know how I started my morning. Before I got out of bed I read Psalm 107. I wanted to read some verses about giving thanks. I got out of bed a little after 6 and by 6:50 I was showered, dressed and even had make-up on. I decided instead of laying in bed blaming Paul for waking the kids up, and making myself start out grumpy, I was going to be “rejoice always”.

I was in the kitchen before 7 and started mixing up pancakes. We had pancakes, oatmeal and sausage. After all, this was a special day....Levi was turning 3 today!

While I was getting breakfast ready I found out that my Grandma was not doing well and all the kids had been called. We have known this was coming, but it was still hard to get the news. Then all day I kept waiting for “the call”.

We went ahead and started school and were actually having a good morning. The kids were working good (maybe one a little slower than I would have liked, but that's for another time). We were getting a lot done.

Paul and his dad came in from hunting around 10 because it was raining and windy. They figured the deer weren't moving anyway. His dad decided the weather wasn't going to get any better and they wouldn't be going back out so he left. He was right...about a half hour later it turned into snow and it accumulated pretty quick and stayed windy. We worked on school until lunch. After lunch we finished up some school with Michael and he even chose to do more...Science.

Paul told me he would make supper and I could relax until supper time. About that time my mom sent me a text saying they had just left the nursing home and that Grandma was still hanging on, but her breathing was shallow and pulse was slow. A little bit later we got “the call”. From the timing I'm guessing she died just after my parents left.

So, it has been a bitter-sweet day. It was sweet knowing my baby was turning 3 today, but hard to get the news that my Grandma had left this Earth. Some family members have posted some pictures on Facebook this evening of Grandma. Some were of her and Grandpa from when they were younger. It is hard knowing I will never see her again here, but it is wonderful knowing she is seeing Jesus face to face tonight and is with Grandpa again. Grandma Hirtzel was the last of my grandparents. I am so thankful I had a long time with all of my grandparents. And I am thankful that they all knew Jesus as their personal Savior and I know I will see them once again.

As one uncle on Facebook posted “I thank God for every remembrance of you” Phil. 1:3

Give Thanks

I saw someone post on Facebook that today was November 1^st so it starts the “Thankful Month”. During the month of November a lot of people try to share something they are thankful for every day. I have been reading things lately that have encouraged me to be conscious of things that God has given me and give thanks for them. According to Biblegateway.com there are 52 places where the phrase “give thanks” is used (NKJV). The first reference listed is I Thessalonians 5:18.....IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS...

It doesn't say to give thanks when we want to or only when things are going good for us. It says to give thanks IN EVERYTHING. In every situation we should give thanks. Just as when we say wedding vows we say “in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer...” we should give thanks in good times and bad, whether we're sick or healthy, and whether we're rich or poor.

The verse doesn't stop there either. It doesn't just tell us what we are supposed to do. It also tells us why we are to do it...FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU. We are not to give thanks just because it's something someone says we should do or because Thanksgiving is coming up...we are to give thanks because it is a command. We are commanded to give thanks in everything we are doing and in any situation we are in.

Now, I know this is easier said than done. You are talking to the pro of only giving thanks when it is convenient or when things are going good. Why should I give thanks when the kids are disobeying, being crabby or are sick? Why should I give thanks when my husband isn't helping me in the way I think he should or isn't home when I think he should be? Why should I give thanks when I don't feel like it, when I'm having a bad day, or I don't feel good? Why? Because God said I need to!

Some of you may be sick right now or have a loved one going through a sickness and you are wondering when it is going to get better. Some of you may be in the “poorer” state right now and you may be wondering where the money is going to come from to pay the bills this month. Some you may be just be having some bad days and you're wondering how to make them better. GIVE THANKS! Give thanks to God for the things you have, for the time you have been on this earth, for the housing and clothes and food you have. No matter how hard things seem I think we can all find at least one thing to be thankful for each day. And not just during November, the “Thankful Month”, but all year long.  

Helping a friend in need

Recently some friends of ours (a fellow pastor and wife) were sharing with us that because of some financial changes and other things that SSI was saying that they had been "overpaid" for medical expenses for their son. SSI was expecting them to pay back $11,000!!! Immediately I started wondering how Paul and I could help. How could we come up with $11,000 to help our friends out. A comment was made that if 1,000 people donated $10 it would be close. Well, I couldn't let that thought go.....so when I was able to talk to my friend again I mentioned that I would love to set up a fundraiser web site for them if they needed it done. At the time they were still trying to appeal the decision so we waited to find out what happened. After trying many times and at different levels the appeals were not going in their favor. So, I got the privilege of setting up a fundraiser web site. I tried to research to make sure we used the best one and then asked them to put it in writing exactly what had been going on (so I wouldn't get the information messed up). I received the information and some pictures yesterday in  my e-mail so today I was able to get the fundraiser started. It went online this afternoon around 3:30 and tonight when I looked at it there was already $475!!! God is so good and I know He will provide through all of our friends and maybe even some strangers. If you are interested in giving....even just $10.....please click on the button on the right....Hathcock Fundraiser. And thank you for your prayers, consideration and donations!