My Favorite Parable

Matthew 25:31-46

New International Version (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This is my favorite parable. It was the first Bible Study I had when I joined my new church. it spoke to me and let me know how selfish I have been all my life. Instead of just living.. and Living for myself and my family.. I... err.. WE should be living for the Lord. To PROVE to him that we love HIM we should be being selfless. We should be thinking of Others, We should be sheep.. When someone needs clothes we should give them. Now this is  not saying run to Walmart and start buying everything they have so you can give it to the poor.. NO.. it means If you have extra clothes that you may have grown out of, or Your kids clothes they grew out of.. Give them to the Rescue Mission! IF someone is Hungry.. Make some food and take it to the Rescue Mission! They Will Never turn away some good food! If you See someone that needs Help Direct them to the Rescue Mission so they can be directed to where they CAN get help! Now.. with how dangerous the times are Don't just Invite people into your home unless you know you and your kids are safe. YOU get what I'm saying.. Every time you help someone.. You are helping a brother or sister of the Lord. YOU are PROVING to him that you Love him. Be Selfless. 

The Sheep are the people that selflessly Help one another without having to be told. You do it out of the kindness of your heart.

This Parable just speaks to me.. and tells me I should be helping others.. I want to help others because... I want them IN turn to become sheep.. Pay it forward.. I was helped by a few when I was recovering from surgery.. THEY were selfless and Cared about me and my family. Its my turn.

Hugs!
Leslie

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for Loving Us Unconditionally. Thank you for your Selflessness. You Watch over us and You know what is best for us. I Ask you watch us and Guide us as we Journey on our Paths You have laid out for us. Help each and everyone of us to loyally serve YOU. Help us to understand that Serving Others is the Way to God. Guide us to Be sheep and Not Goats. We Love you. In your name we Pray. Amen.

Forgivness

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^a 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6

We are forgiven. Isn't that amazing? No matter what we have done, we know Jesus died on the cross to save us, so that God could look at us and see Jesus his perfect son. I never felt as good as when I realized I had been forgiven. We all feel guilty for things we have done in our past. For things you look back at now and shake your head at. Yes we all HAVE! And isn't amazing to know that You are forgiven?

The last line in this passage is the best. My Pastor was explaining it to my husband and I our bible study class. You were Justified. So Pastor said You can remember this.. by saying.. "Just if fied" not sinned. (Just if I'd Not sinned) WE are forgiven Just if We'd Not sinned. Isn't that Forgiveness? IT IS! Simply put.

I guess this struck a cord in my heart.. That Jesus had to die such a horrific death.. with pain, misery, suffering.. so that I can be saved. He loved me even before he knew me to save me.. He loved me so much he wanted to see me in heaven when I get there!

I just wanted to share with you the power of forgiveness and how amazing the Lord is by dieing for our sins.  He is very always thinking about others before himself.. for that.. we can't help but feel loved.

HUGS! and have a Blessed Day!

Leslie


Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father, for sending your Only son to live for us, die for us, and forgive us our sins. That way we can go to heaven and also be seen as sinless because he died to take away our sins. We love you too. We sing praises to you for such a wonderful life that we may all live. And give you thanks for sending us Your son, Our Lord. In your Holy name we pray. Amen.

Need a Prayer Please

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:14

 

I am asking everyone to lift my Pastors wife Marji up to God for healing. She fell yesterday and really did some damage to her arm. I pray to our Lord in Heaven so that Marji is looked after and pray that everything goes well in her upcoming surgeries. We ALL pray that your will be done to Marji as she is one of the most strongest women we have met. She is an amazing spirit that has touched everyone of our hearts. I ask you for to really watch over her as she is going thru this difficult time and Look after Pastor as well. I know he is there with her and just be his strength. and Please grant the doctors the wisdom they need to really help Marji. and most of all Dear Lord please don't let her be in pain. That is the worst way to exhaust a spirit, and Marji's Spirit is so beautiful. Let her be at ease and heart not be down. In your name I pray, Dear Lord.

 Amen

 

God Bless you and Hugs!

Leslie

 

Nothing Will Change

I found this picture on facebook. I read it and it spoke to me. If I don't hold myself accountable for today and what is happening... If I don't change anything. Nothing will change. It is so true. so Today... I'm making a change.. not for you. or you... or You.. and Not even for YOU.. I'm going to change for ME.. and I have to add.. for me and My kids. because the Change I make for myself... Will also make a change for my kids.

I sit or stand here and wait for things to happen. I wait for people to change and they dont. I can't make someone else change. Either they WANT to change.. Or they dont! I can't control the minds of others. I can only control ME. So today.. well its late today.. so TOMORROW! Things are changing. Positive Attitudes and One foot in front of the other... NO More procrastination! well... Maybe until my coffee is drank.. :)

Have a Blessed Day!

Leslie

Prayer: Dear Lord, Bless us all tonight as we sleep and help us to think about the next step we can take tomorrow. Let us Look into our hearts and find the courage and the strength to Change something for the better in our daily lives. Please Dear Lord, guide us and continue to be our strength we need to make changes in our lives so that we can positively effect others to Serve you and your spread your love. In  your name we pray. Amen.