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October 11, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Change You Want to See, by Rubel Shelly
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23 TNIV).
The world needs lots of positive change. Do you agree?
There needs to be less violence in the world. There are too many angry
people on the road and in our workplaces. There are too many abusive
words spoken in homes. And there are too many people who never get
spoken to except to be criticized, put down, or made fun of. Things
don't have to be that way. You and I can change this hateful pattern
and drain off some of that savage anger.
The world needs more joy. It doesn't take any great effort to
acknowledge people on the sidewalk, in elevators, or at restaurants.
Why, it is even possible to smile at clerks and customers. There's
something almost magical when clerk and customer smile simultaneously —
and speak pleasantly. It starts with a simple, natural smile directed
at another human being.
Don't wait for someone else to take the initiative!
We certainly need increased kindness to each other too. Every time you
cross paths with another human being, you have the opportunity to see
and affirm the image of God she bears. You can build her up or tear her
down. If you do the former, you are honoring God and affirming human
dignity; if you do the latter, you are not so much insulting that
person as the God in whose likeness she was created. So racism, sexism,
and the other hateful "-isms" of the world are out of place.
Summing up, I suppose it all translates into Jesus' call for us to love
one another. Maybe that's why less rage and more smiles, fewer
incivilities and more kindnesses don't sound like such novel ideas.
But, hey, the notion here isn't novelty but need, not originality but
urgency. Don't you think these little things would make the world a
better place for all of us? "But it's too simplistic!" somebody
protests. Are you sure? The world gets changed not only by the mighty
exploits of its occasional superstar heroes, but also by the cumulative
little deeds of each soul who aspires to a holy thing.
Don't wait for someone else to take the initiative in your workplace,
at home, or in your church. No leader needs to give you permission.
Just do these right, positive, and wholesome things yourself. If you
must, do them alone. Go person to person with them, and God will make
you into a world-changer.
Pray to be the change you'd like to see.
---------
(c) 2007 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life"
printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of
the "FAX of Life."
RELATED LINKS:
* Filling the Vacuum
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200701/20070119_vacuum.html
* More Than Falling Dominoes
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200601/20060130_fallingdominoes.html
* Filling the Earth with God's Goodness
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/praying_paul/pwp.pl?365
* RubelShelly.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071011_changeyouwant.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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