-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine --
http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
December 7, 2007
/--- MERRY CHRISTMAS! -------------------------------\
Find free e-cards, articles, devotionals, gifts
and more for Christmas at Heartlight!
\------------ http://www.heartlight.org/christmas ---/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Person in the Mirror, by Paul Faulkner
Christian people who really want to serve the Lord with willing,
servant hearts sometimes neglect their own well-being. Jesus said,
"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 19:19). And that's not about
being egocentric, but it implies that treating yourself right --
respecting that God knows you, made you, has a plan for you (Psalm
139:13-16). Properly caring for yourself, both body and soul, while
recognizing that your body is the temple of God becomes the basis for
treating others properly(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
That means taking care of yourself!
You would take care of your best friend so that he or she could take
care of others. You would try to understand that friend, and comfort
and strengthen that friend all you could. You need to do the same thing
to the person in your mirror, as well! This is not about being selfish,
but about being respectful of God's purposes for you!
Christian writer Fredrick Buechner put it this way, "A bleeding heart
is no help to anybody if it bleeds to death." That means not only
taking care of yourself physically, but feeding yourself with divine
nourishment from God's Word, being merciful to yourself, accepting the
bread of life from Jesus, and accepting God's forgiveness. When we do
these things, we are then able to share them with others more
completely.
---------
(c) 2007 Paul Faulkner.
RELATED LINKS:
* A Tradition Like No Other
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200704/20070414_tradition.html
* A Rose by Any Other Name ... Might Just Be Jim
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071025_jim.html
* Who is My Neighbor?
http://www.heartlight.org/feature/sf_980325_neighbor.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200712/20071207_inthemirror.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD, by Brother Lawrence
This edition of this timeless devotional classic will help you
cultivate a continual awareness of God in the everyday.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?223
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
HEARTLIGHT DAILY EMAIL /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/
\/
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are welcome and tax-deductible! Find out how to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-heartlight@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
heartlight-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
