In With The NewAn incomplete guide to change

part 2

HARD THINGS MADE EASY

Giftedness

Ephesians 4:7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

1 Peter 4:10–11 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself

were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others?

Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ…

Photo of Tommy Lasorda

Thoughtfulness

World English Dictionary thoughtful  (ˈθɔːtfʊl) — adj 1. considerate in the treatment of other people 2. showing careful thought 3. pensive; reflective

Luke 7:36–50 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned

that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.

Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him

and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You

have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her

hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little

loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

John 19:25–27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that

time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Servant-hood

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

Galatians 5:13 …serve one another in love.

EASY THINGS MADE HARD

Matthew 23:24 “Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!”

Gratefulness

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Romans 16:3–4 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to

them.

1 Kings 2:7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.”

Truthfulness

Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

Proverbs 16:11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he

lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Generosity

Proverbs 11:24–25 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others

will be refreshed.

1 John 3:16–18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and

shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Matthew 10:8b “…Freely you have received, freely give.”