MEDITATIONS AND MEMORIES

"A MERRY HEART DOETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE." Proverbs 17:22 Don't you like to be around someone that is cheerful and laughs? A laugh is really contagious. I remember a couple Christmas's back. We were all sitting on the floor playing with the babies. I don't remember what I got tickled about, but my daughter looked at me and she started laughing. Then my two grandaughters started laughing. Finally when we all calmed down - none of us knew what we were laughing at. The laughs just spread. God's Love produces a laugh in our soul. A Merry Heart! Then if we look at the next two words,"Doeth Good". That brings me to the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 Goodness is listed as part of the fruit. The greek word is "agathosune" Pronounced ag-ath-soo-nay. It is character that is energized to display active goodness. This is good that "does good" toward others and in relationship to others. Goodness is love in action, love with its hand to the plow, love with the burden on its back, love following His Footsteps Who went about continually doing good. (James Hamilton) As Christians we have no alternative but to march to the drumbeat of the Holy Spirit, following the measured steps of goodness which pleases God. We can do good deeds, and by practising principles of goodness can witness to those around that we have something "different" in our lives - perhaps something they themselves would like to possess. We may even be able to show others how to practice the principle of goodness in their own lives. But the Bible says "Your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away." Hosea6:4 True goodness is a "fruit of the Spirit." and our efforts to acheive in our own strength alone can never succeed. We should be careful that any goodness the world my see in us is the genuine fruit of the Spirit and not a counterfeit substitute, lest we unwittingly lead someone astray. -Billy Graham Do you really want to do good and feel good about doing good? I'll tell you one way! A few years back- the church where we were going then -was cooking turkeys for some families. We felt led for them to do a turkey for us, since the pot was hot anyway. (This was whole fried turkey that is known in South Louisiana.) When the turkey was finished we ask someone to drop the turkey off at a certain person's house. (This was a member of the church.) But we had one request. Don't tell them who sent it! We did not understand then, but a couple services later this little lady stood and said "Thanksgiving day came and we did not have a Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing to cook. Then a knock came on our door and said they were sent to deliver a turkey from someone who did not want to be known and it was such a blessing." We knew then that the Lord will lead you if you let Him. She got the blessing of the turkey but we got the blessing of sitting there - not caring who got the credit. We have found since then that if you feel you need to do something good, do it! So do good and feel good about doing good. Watch how the Lord will bless you in your soul!