Quote from Forum Archives on February 20, 2002, 4:44 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

In his weekly message, called Sowing Seeds of Faith, my friend
Larry Davies writes about making a difference, in a way that
really matters. This message is necessary because so many of us
forget what things really do make a difference. Does it really
matter that I know who the Nobel Prize winners are, or who the
Academy Award winners are? Larry doesn't think so, and I don't
think so, either. (But Larry, don't you remember the most recent
Super Bowl winner - the New England Patriots? 😉 Last fall, I
called both the Washington Redskins and the New England Patriots
"girls" for their lackluster performances. The local New England
football team finally redeemed themselves and won a championship).

Two years from now, will anyone care? Two days from now, will
anyone care? Hopefully not. (But it was fun to celebrate for a
change! 🙂

The reality is that it is far more useful and important to
remember those who have helped you, and those you can help
yourself. The most important thing of all is to draw strength,
hope, love, and purpose, from the One who made us, and them
freely share it with everyone, just as Jesus Christ did. Jesus
had it all, and He gave it all away, with nothing obvious at all
in return. (But we know the rest of the story, don't we?)

Let's remember to call on God first for meaning and purpose in
our life. Then we can make a difference in the lives of others,
as we utilize the gifts that God freely gives to us.

Let's read on and find out what Larry has to say about it this
week.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: "Sowing Seeds of Faith..." <sowseeds@nesbeonline.com>
Subject: Do You Really Want to Make a Difference?

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www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Sowing Seeds of Faith,T

$(CDo(B You Really Want to Make A Difference?$(D
b(By Larry Davies

I found this quiz on the internet recently. Take it and see how
well you do:

$(G N(Bame the ten wealthiest people in the world.
$(G N(Bame the last ten Super Bowl winners.
$(G H(Bow about the last ten Academy Award winning movies?
$(G T(Bhe last five Nobel Prize winners?

Well? That$(Bs (Bokay, I didn't do well either. With the exception of
a few trivia nuts, none of us remember the achievements of
yesterday too well. And the achievements listed in this quiz are
certainly not second-rate. If we want to make a difference,
maybe great accomplishments is not the best answer.

I think all of us yearn for something more permanent. Do you want
to make a difference? Then you must look beyond your
achievements. God has something else in mind.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: "That is why we live be believing
and not by seeing." If we live by believing, then we must look
past the achievements of today for something else. Verse 9 has
the answer: "So our aim is to please him always..." That is
where we look to make a difference. We concentrate our creative
energy in pleasing God, not in satisfying our own personal goals.

Pleasing God is a good goal, right? The question is: How do we do
that?"

Paul gives us the answer again in verse 11, "It is because we
know this solemn fear of the Lord that we try to work so hard to
persuade others." The word $(Cfe(Bar$(D i(Bn this case refers more
to loving respect than terror. So if we want to make a
difference, Paul gives us two steps to follow:

1. Work on fearing God or developing our relationship with God.
2. Try to persuade others or influence them in a Christian way.

Let's look at another quiz. See how you do on this one:
$(G T(Bhink of three people you enjoy spending time with.
$(G N(Bame 5 friends who helped you through a difficult time.
$(G L(Bist two churches that made a difference in someone$(Bs (Blife.
$(G L(Bist three teachers who influenced your education.

Easier? It was for me, too. In our church, $(Cma(Bking a
difference$(D m(Beans many things for many people:

* Justine felt called to lead the youth in ministry.
* Cindy felt the call to help hundreds discover their spiritual gifts.
* Fay visits shut-ins and works with our older adults.
* Jim leads an organization that repairs run-down houses for the
elderly and poor.
* Frank and his crew do construction chores for other churches
and those in need.

Do you still want to make a difference?
1. Work to improve your personal relationship with God:
2. Join a Bible Study and spend more time in prayer.
3. Look around you and ask God to help you see who is hurting.
4. Don't depend on others; actively help where you see a need.
5. Say something encouraging to at least one person daily.
6. When others gossip...walk away or change the subject.
7. When someone asks you for prayer...pray with them...now!
8. Remember you are called to be involved in your church, your
community and your world.

This is certainly not everything, but it's a good start. Maybe
together we can work to make a difference with our friends, our
family, our fellow employees, our local church, our community,
our needy world and especially with our loving God! What a
relief. I can$(Bt (Beven remember this year$(Bs (Bsuper bowl winner.

If you like this devotion you will love the book: $(CBr(Beaking
the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God$(Bs (BRecipe for a Better
Life$(D n(Bow on sale only through this website. Click here for
more information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Join our prayer ministry by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me,
and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you
can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a
useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a
pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words
remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be
granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great
glory to my Father. (John 15:5-8)

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--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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