Saturday, August 20
Saturday included a trip that was unscheduled. (If you ever plan on going on a mission trip you’d better get used to that!)
One of the Panamanian pastors asked if we wanted to see his church. The truth of the matter is that failing to see his church would not have been a game-breaker for the trip; but to him it was important and that was reason enough to stop by his church.
However, upon arrival I think I discovered what he really wanted us to see – his first grandchild, a beautiful little granddaughter. They were celebrating her first birthday on the day of our visit and he was bursting with pride.
Well you know how I feel about grandchildren and so that pastor and I sealed a lifetime friendship on that day:).
Now here’s the lesson I was reminded of from that visit: “People are pretty much the same anywhere you go.”
The people around you today may be a little lighter or darker than you, they may speak a little differently from you and they may have a few different customs. But at the end of the day, other people are basically just like you. They love their families
(especially grandchildren), their work matters to them, and they want someone to care.
As an ambassador for Jesus Christ, use that knowledge for their good. Don’t let a few differences separate you from people.
Look beyond their differences (especially the annoying ones) and make the effort to listen and care. At the worst, it will make things better than they were and who knows, you may gain a lifetime friend and an opportunity to show them the way to Heaven.
Remembering the “E” in giving my B-E-S-T – “I shall give my best to those God brings into my life – beginning with my family – by encouraging them with words of affection, appreciation and affirmation.”
_dlkemp
Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium
and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to
the faith.
(Acts 14:21-22)
The ONE THING 