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“Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.” - Genesis 24:12, A Servant’s Prayer


All That Matters

“God may not give you all the answers, but He will give you His presence, and in the end, that’s all that matters.” – Max Lucado

Anyway – Version Two

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Anyway – Version One

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for the underdog anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

Jesus, the Friend of Sinners

  • Luke 15:1-10
  • Many times, we tend to cater to the Body of Christ instead of being a friend to sinners. We focus on ourselves instead of the outside world.
  • That’s not totally bad, but when we don’t reach out for Christ, we’re failing Him. He has decided to use us, His church, to build His Kingdom.
  • Be careful of the message of the Pharisees (their yeast). They taught that God basically hated sinners and that He is pleased when they suffer and die because of sin.
  • Are we attracting sinners and tax collectors? What made Christ attractive to the lost should make us attractive to them as well. (Titus 2:10)
  • Are we making it easy for sinners and tax collectors to feel welcome? Do we welcome them to our churches? Jesus never condoned or avoided or ignored their behavior, but He told them they were at the right place. “I’m glad you’re here.” (John 6:37). Jesus never turned anyone away– but many decided to leave Him.
  • Are we identifying with sinners and tax collectors? Are we broken with and for them? (I Corinthians 5:9-11). We used to be like them– lost. Don’t forget where God brought you from.
  • Lost people do what lost people are supposed to do. They are lost! Lost people don’t need just a scolding– they need love too. (Luke 15:5-6). Sometimes, we the church, put them down so far and show so little love, they see no way out.
  • Every human being has been created in the image of God and is worth searching for.
  • Some of us were covered with dirt (like the coin), and God can clean us up.
  • How hard are we willing to search for the lost?

Friendship is Like a Bank Account

“Friendship is like a bank account. You can’t continue to draw on it without making deposits.”

The Friends You Can Call at 4:00 am

“It is the friends you can call up at 4:00 am that matter.” – Marlene Dietrich

Removing a Fly

“Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from a friend’s forehead.” – Chinese Proverb

Before You Borrow Money from a Friend

“Before you borrow money from a friend, decide which you need more.”

A Friend Can Tell You Things

“A friend can tell you things you don’t want to tell yourself.” – Frances Ward Weller

Promises May Gain Friends

“Promises may gain friends, but it is performance that keeps them.”

The Encouragement of a Good Friend

“There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.” – Katharine Butler Hathaway

A Faithful Friend

A faithful friend is a strong defense. And he that hath found such one hath found a treasure.

A Friend Allows You Distance

“A friend is someone who allows you distance but is never far away.” – Noah benShea

Being a Friend

“Being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. And a time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own history. And a time to pick up the pieces when it’s all over.” – Gloria Naylor

Destroying My Enemies

“Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?” – Abraham Lincoln

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