Healing, Hope, Love, Pain, Walking Beside the Weak & Wounded, Words of Endurance
Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need,
but does not help.
Then God’s love is not living in that person.
My children, we should love people not only with words and talk,
but by our actions and true caring.
1 JOHN 3:17-18 (NCV)
The above scripture is a foundational verse for the ministry of Endurance – it permeates every policy and program. We believe it is “where the rubber meets the road. Words and talk – although important – are not nearly as important as acts of love and kindness. Words spoken are exactly that but love in action speaks much louder and shows how much we truly care because we are giving of ourselves.
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this
if you learn all the right words but never do anything?
Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?
For instance, you come upon an old friend
dressed in rags and half-starved and say,
“Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!”
and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—
where does that get you?
Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
JAMES 2:14-17 (THE MESSAGE)
Here are some of our favorite tried and true actions of love that help us walk beside those who are weak and wounded …
• Ask – “How can I be praying for you?’ and then always offer to pray right then and there with your
hurting friend.
• Be there – take the time – love in action!
• Send a note card or email when you pray for hurting friends or family members so they know that
you continue to pray for them.
• Be there – take the time – love in action
• Call and check in on a regular basis especially before any potentially difficult milestone such as an
anniversary of a loved one’s death or an important appointment – it is taking the time to care.
• Be there – take the time – love in action!
• Help with the daily grind of life by preparing meals or helping with the daily duties whenever you
can – give a helping hand.
• Be there – take the time – love in action
God chooses carefully those who would bring His message of hope, comfort and love to His suffering children. If you have been chosen to be God’s hands, mouth or feet for your friend – God will bless you richly as you let Him teach you His gentle ways and how to walk in His strength. And remember …
It is not how much we do,
but how much love we put into what we do.
MOTHER TERESA
As you serve and love others in need – count it a privilege and be blessed…
“Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom.
It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
‘ I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about?
When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink?
And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth:
Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored,
that was me—you did it to me.’
MATTHEW 25:34-40 (THE MESSAGE)
On the journey with you,
Dave & Jan Dravecky