Fighting for Compassion!!

HI ALL...I'm BACK!! Cara, there's a NEW blog! WOOHOO!!

Well, Africa was FANTASTIC!! So many lessons taught by God and so many eye openers...many tears...much laughter!! In a single word...AWESOME!! My time in Brisbane was GREAT!! Caught up with family and old friends...had a wonderful Chrissy and New Year...a real time of peace and joy...and caught up with friends I haven't caught up with in 8 months...definately one of the biggest highlights in Brissy...I love you Pete and Lissy!! Went to a wedding (and even got asked to sing at the wedding hehe). It was great! But Gosford is where my heart is now and it feels GRAND to be home!! I caught up with a few friends last night and my WONDERFUL Corps Officers/Pastors who I've missed SO dearly had me over for lunch yesterday. Today's been an office bound day and I feel GREAT!! Been back on Notes chatting to the BEAUTIFUL Katie all day (and trying to chat to you Lish but you're no longer on line...booo...talk to you tomorrow :D) So...I'm BACK IN BUSINESS and looking forward in anticipation to the promise and assurrance I have in Christ that just because I'm His child and He loves me SO much (as undeserved as it is) this is going to be a FANTASTIC, AWESOME, INSPIRING, STRETCHING, FABULOUS year!! WOOHOO!! BRING IT ON!! Can't wait!! :D

So...on with the blog...as you can see by the title I'm talking about COMPASSION!! I hope that not too many people read this actually cause I plan to preach on it sometime, somewhere, when the opportunity arises..hehe...anyway...I spent 4 days last week in the BEAUTIFUL Mullumbimby on my grandparents property consisting of miles of lush, beautiful, awe-inspiring rainforest, amazing wildlife and just absolute beauty. In other words, I spent 4 days basking in God's creation!! What an awesome God He is!! I took some time out while I was there to just watch and enjoy His creation. Then I went for a walk with God around the property...and I ended up sitting on a big rock at their rock pool completely surrounded by rainforest. It really is amazing!! I spent a little time chatting with God and asking Him to reveal Himself to me. By the next morning He had revealed Himself to me in one of His many awesome ways...as a God of GREAT COMPASSION!!

As you know, I just spent a month in Botswana (Africa) where I worked at camps for AIDS orpans & children running their own homes etc. This really was an incredible experience and at the end of it God really opened my eyes to the compassion He has on these people. And not just that, but the compassionate God He really is! Let me explain...because one, there is a difference...and two, you probably think by now that I'm repeating myself and have run out of things to say...tehe...NEVER!

Let me first ask you to go and read Psalm 103:6-13 (or click on the reference because, let's face it, it's easier than getting up to grab your Bible! :D)

So, after reading that, I'm sure it's clear to you that we serve a very compassionate God. What is our idea of compassion? How do we, like God, become compassionate people? Do we think that compassion only falls on those who know Jesus and on those who receive healing or improved circumstances?

The Colins New Australian Dictionary says:

Compassion means...a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another

Compassionate means...showing or having compassion

So, if we take our definition from the Colins Dictionary, compassion means to have a heart for or to feel pity for the less fortunate - or the lost! That's the heart of God. He sees the world He created so perfectly now in a mess and His children suffering and He has compassion on them. He feels distressed that His children have chosen a life that brings death and suffering.

You know, I think about the only time that we, in our busy lives, have compassion on people is when we see a World Vision Ad on TV or we see someone injured or killed on the news. But God is constantly watching us and His heart is contantly full of compassion for our world and for the lost and needy as much as for the injured. Sure, He rejoices over us too - but His heart of compassion for the lost NEVER changes. He understands that those who are spiritually suffering and lost are the ones that need compassion the most. If we continue reading in Psalm 103:14-18 God makes it clear that our days on earth are numbered and we need to consider and act on our eternal life. And for those who are still lost we MUST have a heart of compassion for them ALWAYS so that we will NEVER forget to reach out to them.

Compassionate...the Colins Dictionary described it as SHOWING compassion. It's one thing to FEEL compassion, but to put that feeling into action is another thing altogether! You know, not only did God have compassion on His people, but He gave them so many chances to make it right. We read in His Word about how He wiped the earth except Noah and His family and 2 of every animal so that we could start again and have a fresh start. But the people still grew to break God's heart. He sent plagues across Egypt to free His people and show Pharoah that He was serious, and in their escape from Egypt along their way to freedom the people still broke God's heart! So the only thing He could do, in His biggest act of compassion and in His attempt to give us a second chance, was to send His only Son to die our death and give use new life. Not only does our God FEEL compassion, but He shows it! He gives His all holding NOTHING back from us. He does that not to just feel sorry for us, but to open the door for us to walk through to a better life!

Showing compassion doesn't always mean going overseas to help AIDS orphans or to rebuild ruined homes if God hasn't called you to go there. Acts 1:8 says:

"You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth!"

Our commission is to our town...our state...our nation...our world!! We have towns full of people where we live who are still dying not knowing Jesus! Towns full of people who are lost. Do we have enough compassion for our town that we are willing to become compassionate people? To act as Christ has led us to act? The start of Acts 1:8 says:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..."

If we serve a compassionate God and we are filled with His Holy Spirit then His compassion will overflow in us making us compassionate people for His service! But first we need to open ourselves up for that. We need to fall on our knees with open arms and ask our compassionate God to not only give us a heart of compassion for His lost children, but also for the will to become compassionate people and reach out to those who need it!!

I challenge you to look at your life...do you feel compassion?? If you do, are you a compassionate person? One who ACTS as well as FEELS?? Allow God to lead you to have a heart of compassion and a will to act!