“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 Oxford Dictionary defines compassion as: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. During the last few weeks, many parts of the world have been devastated by hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and other life-threatening events. People have lost everything that they owned. There is a scarcity of food, shelter, and medical supplies. Charitable organizations have made a plea for compassion, and donations have been pouring in. People have seen the need and given of their finances to help those suffering. David, in his prayer in Psalm 86, describes God as being full of compassion. When Jesus was here on earth, everything demonstrated this attribute in His ministry: Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way”…

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2 Our pastor usually walks around the church praying before the service, and often, we see his grandson walking in his footsteps. The pastor also makes a unique gesture with his hand when he is preaching or worshiping. Recently, I noticed the grandson doing the same thing when the children were on the platform singing on Family Sunday, Children imitate the actions of those they love. In this verse in Ephesians, Paul admonishes the church to walk in love and in the footsteps of Jesus. I like how the Amplified Bible expresses it: “Therefore be imitators of God – copy Him and follow His example – as well-beloved children (imitate their father).” When Jesus was here on earth, He spent time teaching His disciples. By spoken word and by His example, He showed them what it meant to love God. He was preparing them for their ministry after He was gone. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one…

“They came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus… began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Mark 10:46–47, KJV In this passage we meet Bartimaeus—a blind beggar sitting beside the highway. That roadside was known as a place where outcasts, the unclean, and the overlooked gathered. His daily routine was painfully predictable: “I’m blind… can you spare a shekel?” Nothing about his day suggested anything extraordinary was coming. But then he heard something; voices, footsteps, movement. And because he was blind, his ears were trained to pick up what others might ignore.  He could feel something was shifting in the atmosphere. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, something awakened in him. He cried out: “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” Blind Eyes, But Spiritual Insight Though Bartimaeus was physically blind, he had a spiritual revelation of who was walking down that road. He didn’t call Him “Jesus of Nazareth.” He called Him “Son of David”—a Messianic title. He recognized the Healer before he ever saw Him. He had no physical sight, but…

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14. I’m one of those people who love a power outage; I think it’s fun to get off the grid for a few hours, playing a board game, reading a book to candlelight, or just being cozy with blankets acting like a shelter of protection. Even though there is darkness in the world, it doesn’t mean there isn’t something more powerful. Light will always prevail. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:4-5. God has a remedy for every bit of darkness in the world and that is Himself, the truest light form in the universe. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105. When we are led by the Word of God we will have clear direction on where we need to go and what we need to do. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under…