-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
March 9, 2009
/--- Sponsor a Child with Compassion -----------------------\
For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
following link to learn more about sponsoring a child
through Compassion!
\--- http://ads.heartlight.org/email/92/ -------------------/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Unmentioned Essentials, by Phil Ware
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about ... the
world was not worthy of them ... These were all commended for their
faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had
planned something better for us so that only together with us would
they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:32-40 TNIV).
As last week ended, two very quiet and unassuming people in our church
family -- one a woman, the other a man -- passed quietly from this life
and into the arms of Jesus. Neither would garner headlines in the
paper. Neither would be listed as key leaders in our church. Both lived
quiet lives of unassuming service outside the limelight. Both did more
good things than can be counted. Both of these served folks others
didn't see or simply neglected. Neither wanted to be well known for
what they did; both just wanted others to be served. One provided
scholarships for students who couldn't afford a Christian education and
the other made dresses for little girls in children's homes -- and yes,
they did hundreds of other things in addition to these, so I share
these as just a sample.
Both of these fine, sweet, people are part of what I call the
"unmentioned essentials" of God's Kingdom. They fulfilled the apostle
Paul's charge to the Thessalonians:
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your
own business and work with your hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
They will be missed because of who they are and because of what they
have quietly done.
All too often, we give our attention to celebrity. Even in our
churches, we honor the person who is up front or who can speak loudest
or can display some entertaining skill in a public forum. Yet if we
scratch beneath the surface, we know the folks that win great victories
or accomplish great things or win great battles for God are often these
"unmentioned essentials" -- the quiet, faithful, resolute, steadfast
"git 'er done" folks behind the scenes.
So I am thankful today.
I am thankful that the Holy Spirit mentioned the "unmentioned
essentials" in the Faith Hall of Fame -- yes indeed, "the world was not
worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:32-40, see Scripture above).
I am thankful for getting to know more about two precious, but private,
people who served God's Kingdom in ways that only the Lord knows.
I pray that more of us will be like them.
I am thankful for the people over the ages who toiled in obscurity,
suffered without notoriety, served without fanfare, sacrificed without
notice, and advanced the cause of Christ without needing a headline, a
billboard, or a platform.
I pray that more of us will be like them. I hope more of us will thank
such folks when we find them. And I know that God will reward them in
glory in ways we did not while they lived quietly among us.
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on."
"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their
deeds will follow them" (Revelation 14:13).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who are some of these quiet servants of God that have crossed your
path? I'd love to hear a story or two about the people who have
impacted your life for Jesus!
Why do you think we tend to ignore and neglect these kinds of servants
and get so caught up in the hype and bluster of celebrities --
especially since Jesus taught us who the real heroes are?
I'd love for you to share your ideas on my blog:
http://thephilfiles.com
---------
(c) 2009 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* The Quiet Kingdom
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200705/20070515_quietkingdom.html
* Unrecognized Workers
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200701/20070109_unrecognized.html
* Miz Roof
http://www.heartlight.org/feature/feature_101696_mizroof.html
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200903/20090309_essentials.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD DVD+CD, by Louie Giglio
Join author, speaker, and Passion conference founder Louie Giglio for a
life changing presentation! How Great Is Our God includes Louie's
powerful talk and a five-song CD featuring modern worship favorites
performed by conference mainstays Chris Tomlin...
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?250
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.
======================================================================
