Inspirational Article
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For those of you who have not heard, there were thirty two people killed by a gunman a couple of days ago. My first reaction was shock. Then my heart turned to the families and friends of the victims. I felt just a little of the horror and agony they must be feeling. I wondered if they had told the ones that were shot how much they loved them. Had they hugged them and kissed them goodbye when they left home? Did they share things and laugh together? Had they just had a birthday party for someone or was their birthday the next day? Had they planned to go to the mall later in the day? Were they planning their vacation trip? Were they happy families or did they have fear and unhappiness in their homes?
We live as if we have forever. None of us are promised even another minute. So in the short time that we are here we must be about the Master’s business. We need to take all of the bitterness, hurt, resentment, anger, jealousy and criticism that is poisoning our hearts and give it to Jesus. Unless and until we allow Jesus to give us a compassionate and loving heart for our families, loved ones, and the world, we will be guilty of pulling the trigger of hate, shooting them in their hearts and crippling or killing them emotionally. It is no wonder at all that so many people have poor self images. It is because they are constantly being told they will never accomplish anything, that they are fat, stupid and ugly.
It is heartbreaking what happened to these dear people who were shot, yet every day children are shot by parents with poisonous barbs of criticism that lodge deep in their hearts and leave a permanent scar. Children say disrespectful and hateful things to their parents. Spouses make angry accusations to one another in the heat of an argument. Our hearts become cold with indifference toward one another. It takes the restoring power of Jesus to take all this garbage from our hearts and once again make our hearts tender so that we can love others with unconditional love. Loving others is not an option; it is a commandment.
Have you allowed Jesus to take away your cold and hardened heart and replace it with a heart of unconditional love for others? Unless you first love Jesus and desire to make Him happy, you will never be able to effectively love your families and loved ones to Jesus. If your heart is full of things that hurt Jesus, ask Him to forgive you and warm your heart with compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Fall in love with Jesus and you will have a joy and happiness that you have never known.