Be encouraged!

Right now in my personal life, I am having troubles. Stress is overwhelming me and my heart is breaking. But  for the last few days, God has been placing little things in my life to bring me comfort and peace. 

Today in church, we had a guest. He was talking to us about a ministry that needs help from us and how we can help. During his talk he mentioned something that encouraged me.

"When we do acts of kindness for others, we serve God." Marty Roberts

I have always known this. But today it struck me. When presented with the opportunity to do something loving or caring for someone that you don't like or are mad at, just think about the above quote. God sees you and all you do, even if others don't. That is what is most important over all. We also need to remember to not be like the Pharisees.

Luke 18: 9-14 

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."'

It is all too easy to want the attention that you think you deserve for good acts. We do something good for someone and we want them and/or others to notice. I didn't even realize that was what I had been doing for sometime now. I was being like the Pharisees. Doing good deeds for someone, just for the purpose of them noticing. Boy, did I have the wrong motives! Have you ever been there? Have you ever done something for someone, just for them to praise you?

So I guess today that quote spoke volumes to me. I didn't even realize how much until I started typing this post. But the initial thing it said to me was GOD SEES ME! He sees when I am loving, He sees when I'm humble. But in that be careful too. If you do not have a humble heart, you are falling into the same trap again. We must desire to do for The Lord because we want to serve and praise Him, without having ulterior motives. 

I don't know about you, 

but I want to be like the Tax collector! 

Later,

Erin