Time.
Effort.
Money.
Invest your life
today in something that will outlast you.
Let
me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that
brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness,
how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will
end up in the garbage. Here's another way to put it: You're here to be
light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to
be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you
under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've
put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be
generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people
to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
-- (Matthew 15:13-16, The Message)
Compassion
International - http://www.compassion.com/
World Vision - http://www.worldvision.org/
or http://donate.worldvision.org/
Heifer International - http://www.heifer.org/
Habitat for Humanity - http://www.habitat.org/
Prevent Child Abuse - http://www.preventchildabuse.org/
ASPCA - http://www.aspca.org
Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
Marcus Autism Center - http://www.marcus.org/
Tapestry Youth Ministries - http://www.tapestryyouth.org
Last Days Ministries - http://www.lastdaysministries.org/
Susan G. Komen for the Cure - http://www.komen.org/
Reading Is Fundamental - http://www.rif.org/
Fans for Christ - http://www.fansforchrist.org
Don't
fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are
anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on
what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance
in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they
are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed
counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and
sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of
action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is
self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real
religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this:
Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard
against corruption from the godless world.
--
(James 1:22-27, The Message) |
