MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE
By Synthia Esther
GOD IS LOVE ~
The sentiment of faith in giving is seen through out holy scripture. God's personal example of sacrificial love in giving has provided all of humanity sin's salvation, redemption plan. "For God So Love The World That He Gave His One And Only Son, That Whoever Believes In Him Shall Not Perish But Have Eternal Life. For God Did Not Send His Son Into The World To Condemn The World, But To Save The World Through Him." - John 3:16-17. The gift of eternal life is God's most beautiful gift to the believer, offering His provision for forgiveness and reconciliation. His is a friend upon whom we can depend.
But what if we have little to give? Then give a smile, for the world will be a better place because of your loving spirit and joy. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. - Romans 12:4-6
Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. - Psalm 82:3-4
TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE ~
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves." So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere...And when ;you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." So she went form him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, ...the oil ceased.
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest." God takes care of His children.
THE PRAYER OF SERVICE AND GIVING BY SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE
"LORD, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
'O DIVINE MASTER, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.'"
MORE ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
In his book, “Listening to the God who Speaks”, pages 109-110), author, Klaus Bockmuehl, writes of the beloved Saint Francis of Assisi (1181[2]-1226), being the founder of a family of monastic orders and lay associations, as well as the initiator of a broad moral and spiritual renewal that swept through degenerate and faithless Europe of his time. Living a life of example once called by God, he left his past playboy years, embracing evangelical poverty in his commission. With vision and guidance by God's Holy Spirit. “This attitude was not simply a matter of obedience to or instruction from a father superior; it was the 'Spirit of the Lord' replacing the human ego. 'Illumined inwardly and aflame with the fire of the Spirit.'”
________
St. Francis of Assisi: Vocation Prayer
Most High Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our minds. Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity, so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.
________
Copyright - 2009-2016, Synthia Esther. All Rights Reserved.
