Say this:  “YES I CAN!”

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Cans are for the preservation of something good until its time to use it or to keep something in that we don’t want to use….The world uses the metaphor of opening a can mostly in a negative context…. “Don’t open that can of worms”….or like my old buddy R.D. Mercer used to say… “I’m gonna open a 55 gallon can of (bleep) and pour it on you”…But there is a much better can we should consider opening….the can of Compassion, Acceptance and Nurturing….Do you remember the 1970’s disco song, “Love will keep us together”?  Today I want to share with you how this CAN will keep us together.     

Compassionate- Matthew 9:36- Compassion is love moved into action.  In John 3:16 the Father loved and moved, in Matthew 9:36 we see Jesus was moved with compassion and loved the people.  Both of the scriptures illustrate a heart that was moved by love into action.  What moves you to compassion?  Love for your spouse?  Love for your family?  Love for fellow church members?  Let’s be compassionate with each other, even to the point of being compassionate with the uncompassionate.  It is this high level of compassion that moves God to respond to our prayer requests.  He looks and sees our needs.  When we pray according to His will and we have faith to ask Him, then He moves with compassion to answer.  Let’s allow God to activate our love for one another and share His compassion with all we meet.

Acceptance- Romans 15:7- We glorify God by accepting the people who come across our paths.  In John 17:22 Jesus declares the glory the Father gave Him He gives to us.  Why?  So we can in united glory worship the Father.  This is a paradigm shift we must adapt to.  If you insist on continuing to wait till you get to church to experience God’s glory, you will be penalized for delay of service.  Rather, bring the glory Jesus wants to give you everyday, accept and unite with others, add your glory to others and we will see God’s Shekinah glory in our services as we worship together in unity.

Nurturing- 1st Timothy 5:1-2- Ladies have a genetic hardwiring God gave for a high desire to nurture.  Paul tells us in 1st Timothy how and who to nurture.  Men struggle with that more, but should still be nurturers….We must exhort or encourage all who are around us.  Paul also says to do our nurturing in all purity.  Ladies, the fathers and brothers God places in your life will receive your nurturing in the same purity that you are ministering it.  You are our mothers and sisters in Him.  Don’t let a religious spirit keep you from being the women, wives and mothers God calls you to be. Men, we need to be the husbands, fathers and brothers that God has called us to be to the ladies God has put in our families.

Remember Love…. (compassionate, accepting, nurture) Can keep us together.  Say it again…. “YES I CAN!”