For “Scripture Sunday”:
Building Bridges of Kindness
“The Feast of Tabernacles is coming up soon and is a perfect opportunity to contemplate ways we can show kindness to others.
Katie Moum/Unsplash
Kindness goes a long way to make life a better experience for the use of it.
Kindness is listed among the fruit of God’s Spirit. Webster and Dictionary.com defines being kind as being sympathetic, helpful, considerate, and forbearing, or showing tolerance, among other qualities. Showing kindness goes a long way to make life a better experience. And in my own mind its use is a most powerful way of building bridges among people, and should especially be seen among God’s people.
Recently, the death of one of the brethren in the local church occurred who had endured several years of difficulty due to a stroke he suffered. Before he was a vibrant and gentle man, who spoke to God’s people on a regular basis, and with kindness taught about qualities God wants us to develop in our hearts and minds. It is something I will always remember about him. Now, it is a time when we in turn can show the sympathy described as kindness to his wife and family, a gift to help lift them up.
Being generous is another way to show kindness. It lifts the receiver, and at the same time the giver. Have you ever received an unexpected gift from someone? A gift that makes you think of the giver every time you think of it, see it or wear it? It might have been the gift of a kind word, or appreciation. What a warm feeling it brings to reminisce about the kindness of a person who thought of you in a special way by giving you something. Doesn’t it endear you to that person with a new connection rekindled by their generosity? Doesn’t it soften your spirit toward them, if, as sometimes happens, it may be a gift to bring reconciliation and peace between you. That is the time to accept it graciously, be glad to rekindle the relationship with the giver, and let go of grievances.
Another quality to emphasize in the definition of kindness is the ability of showing tolerance. Ah, tolerance. That quality, which when received, makes us thankful that someone has had the kindness to overlook a slight, or let a harsh word spoken in haste go by, rather than make a charge against us.
If we know the experience of receiving tolerance, then we should offer that gift to others as well. And the greatest expression of tolerance for us all was shown through Jesus Christ in the gift of His life for us. “He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16-18). And when we have the chance to give it to someone who may have hurt us in some way, we can lighten our heart, and hopefully theirs by that gift, realizing a slight is often unintended during a time of fatigue or stress in our lives.
What happens in the outcome of the uses of kindness in our life and in the lives of others? Most likely we have been aware of times when a less than kind way of handling a situation has not turned out very well. It often ends with more angry words and animosity between people.
By practicing kindness, it builds the bridges that connect us to one another with fondness and affection. It brings peace and a solace to our spirit that comforts us. And, I believe, it brings satisfaction to God our Father, Who is judging our actions in this life. It can be a way which will prompt Him to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . ” (Matthew 25:21, KJV).
The Feast of Tabernacles is coming up soon and is a perfect opportunity to contemplate ways we can show kindness to others. We can share a tolerant spirit. We can be generous, often more than other times of year. We can include others who may not have opportunities to fellowship at other times of the year. We can bring the joy of building bridges with our brethren by practicing kindness, both at home and at the various Feast sites we will be attending.
Let’s build bridges of kindness to connect to one another during this feast season and beyond.” From: https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/building-bridges-of-kindness
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Plan of Salvation: How God’s Festivals Reveal His Plan
“God has an incredible goal in mind for the humans He made in His own image. How does He let us in on the knowledge of that plan of salvation?
Throughout the Bible God shows that He has a plan for us—a plan that includes every human being who has ever lived, each in his or her own turn (1 Timothy 2:4 ; 1 Corinthians 15:23 ).
Jesus Christ compared His work with us to planting and harvesting (Luke 8:11-15 ). He plants the truth that leads to salvation in our hearts at the right time, and He gives us the help to grow and eventually receive the gift of salvation—eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
How does God plan to offer this priceless gift to everyone? What are the steps in God’s plan of salvation—His “harvest” of human beings?
Interestingly, we find in the Bible seven annual harvest festivals that God wanted His people to keep in their memory and worship. Most people today don’t even know the names of many of these days, but God called them “holy” — He said they are His days!
They deserve careful examination, especially when you discover that Jesus Himself, His disciples and His Church actually celebrated these same festivals!
Is it possible that these ancient festivals are actually a blueprint outlining God’s grand plan of salvation, showing us what the future holds for the entire world and the children of God? It’s time to understand the astounding meaning of God’s holy days!
Each of the articles in this section is written to explain how the festivals picture the plan of salvation. Each festival has great meaning, and as a whole they give insights into the past as well as future events yet to be fulfilled. Now is the time for you to explore this wonderful plan in your own Bible and gain the incredible hope and direction that God’s plan of salvation has for you.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/
About God’s Festivals: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-do-christians-observe-the-biblical-festivals-guide-god-holy-days
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Update:
Another really busy time. My Puddle Jumper, the 
Zack got some more of the mini-house shelves painted this last week, too. If I move in there, it has to be “catified” with shelves on the walls for my foster cat to pretend she is queen of the mountain, or up a tree!
On Tuesdays there is an event for seniors in Conroe, so I started going there. First thing they have donuts (which I don’t eat) and pastries (which I don’t eat) and bread for making toast with margarine, (which I don’t eat), but I do eat the nuts and drink the coffee. Then everyone settles down and plays dominoes or Hand-n-Foot. About 11 am or so the volunteers bring everyone a lunch and dessert. Then we all play Bingo and get choice of prizes which have been donated. It is good to get out of the house and be with people my own age, though nearly everyone is younger than I am.
The afternoon church, The Church of God, 7th Day, Willis was celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles this last weekend. So on Friday, as I don’t drive when it is dark, Lauri, my neighbor from the other morning church, drove me there, and she really enjoyed it. She had only been to that church several years ago for The Lord’s Supper there. The morning church that I attend isn’t going to celebrate the Feast until October the 24th. It all depends which new moon is used in the calculations.
The next day, I went back and had a great time
fellowshipping with the folks in the rec hall and we another Bible Study and prayers with one of the elders officiating. The one who owns the property where it was b
Here I am with my hosts.
It is a lovely rec hall with a full kitchen which was a handy backup for the campers, as it rained quite a bit. There were lots of children and, as usual, they were all very good during the services on the Sabbath which were held at the church a few doors down. Afterwards most families went back to their “tabernacles”. I took a Baked Potato Soup for the Friday evening meal, nothing for Saturday, and Cheesy Hashbrowns for the Sunday breakfast. They made potato, egg and beef sausage tacos for the breakfasts, and beef hot dogs and burgers for the other meals. There is a great big grill under a carport at the rec hall, so the men like to do that. Then cakes, fresh fruit and cookies, too.
On the Sabbath, the Message was about “To Be Or Not To Be.” It was about how so many people admire Shakespeare’s suicide-filled ficticious stories when they could be reading the interesting true stories in the Bible. How Facebook and other empty social medias fill their lives when there are more important things to think about and study, like God’s Word. And more important people than celebraties to admire and keep up with, like your church friends.
We all had a great three days.
2 comments:
Sure glad you had a great three days. Worshiping and celebrating with others is a great way to have a great day.
Thank you, DD. Everyone had a great time, and they are going to celebrate Passover there next year. Happy Trails and Tails, Penny
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