{Scripture Challenge #2} Challenge Word #18, Compassion

Challenge Word #18: Compassion

Are you so caught up in your own struggles or busyness that you fail to see the needs of those around you? Are you sensitive and compassionate towards others or are you selfish? Or on the other end of the spectrum are you feeling as though no one cares or is insensitive to your needs? Do you need some compassion right now? If you feel like that, I am sure there are many around you that feel that way too.

Compassion is meeting people where they are in life, spending time with them, not judging them, and most importantly loving them as God loves them. You can show compassion to anyone even to people you do not know—to the cashier at the grocery store, the bank teller, your postal carrier, a passerby in your neighborhood­, anyone! When God brings someone to you whether a stranger or a friend, show them the compassion that Christ showed to everyone around Him. (See Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34, Mark 1:41, 6:34, and 8:2.) Today He could be using you to accomplish His task. Are you sensitive to His leading and to those around you? Are you reaching out, meeting people where they are, and touching them? As we look to God in all things, our compassion grows for others. Showing that compassion and unconditional love draws people to Christ! How awesome and amazing is that?

As I shared today’s word with one of my daughter’s, she immediately said "Mom, that reminds me of the song 'Mighty to Save.'" I know God used her in that moment and knew I had to include the first verse of that awesome song which is sung by many artists. The first verse says:

“Mighty to Save”
Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Notice how it starts out “Everyone needs compassion.” Yes, everyone!!! Not just the people you like or the people you have time for but everyone. Over and over the Bible talks about the Lord's compassion. There are too many verses for me to quote them all but just a few include:

Nehemiah 9:17b “. . . But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

Psalm 111:4 “He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate..”

Psalm 116:5 “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”

Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.”

Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Lamentation 3:22 “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.”

He is our perfect example thus we need to have compassion for others too. Colossians 3:12 says “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” And 1 Peter 3:8 says “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

For my page this week, I used Memory Box paper and Our Daily Bread Designs stamps. I also pulled out my Copic airbrush system and airbrushed the Martha Stewart lace tags to make them the color I wanted. I think I might need to do that more often. :) The verse I used was the 1 Peter 3:8 verse noted above.
Papers: Memory Box Jubilee Cherry Picnic, Bazzill cs, Paper Trey Ink kraft cs (used for stamped images)
Stamp Ink: Colorbox Pigment Ink chestnut, Ranger clear ep
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Don't Worry
Embellishments: Martha Stewart lace tags and layered arches border punch, Copic E59 (airbrushed), Ellen Hutson yellow lace, Basic Grey milk chocolate chip alpha, Jenni Bowlin journaling card, KaiserCraft pearls, sewing machine

This week, will you look for someone that needs a listening ear? Will you show that unconditional love and compassion towards them? When sharing your page for this challenge be sure to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here. I will be back with another study on September 12th. See you then! Blessings,