Hearts United Women's Ministry

Poem:

Give me a heart of kindness, Lord. Cause my eyes to see.
The needs of those around me, The ones you sent to me.
Give me a heart of kindness, Lord, For those who are in need,
That they may see Your face in mine And on Your goodness feed.  –B.H.

Did you know that the way we approach a situation shows our inward heart?  And that “A heart at peace gives life to the body.”?  If your heart is a well, what would each of these hearts yield (in words)?  Happy, Peaceful, and Hopeful OR Angry, Agitated, and Insecure?

Seeds of Kindness: 

Did you know that Kindness is a KEY to dealing with difficult relationships?  Can you think of an example of when someone showed kindness to you?  Do you remember how did it make you feel?  What about a kindness shown by you recently, and how did that make you feel?

Kindness is an attribute mentioned for older women to teach younger women.  Titus 2:3-5, “Train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husband, that the word of God may not be discredited.”  This fruit of the Spirit is foundational for the rest of the passage.  If we are not kind, how can we have a wonderful marriage, or properly love our children, submit to others, or have the consistent moral excellence which is purity?  And certainly a household that does not display kindness would not feel comfortable or hospitable to others

Sowing Seeds of Kindness: 

When friends show us gifts of kindness, it makes us want to reciprocate kindness to them, and others.  Kindness blesses the giver as well as the receiver.  Kindness is a character quality that is easy to recognize, yet hard to define.  One way to describe it is “showing personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others.”

What’s your mental picture of a kind person?  Is it a grandmother tenderly comforting a child?  In reality, kindness can be as unique and varied as the ways a caring heart can meet the needs of others.  If we desire to be like Christ, we must ask Him to develop kindness in us.  It begins by thinking about God’s kindness to us, His generous grace to us, His acceptance and forgiveness of us.  It is God’s kindness, not our goodness that allows us to come to Him.  Romans 2:4 tells is it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.  Kindness might be described as a willingness to go the extra mile.  It is an attitude, not just actions.

Kindness is an attitude and a decision.  Our decision to be kind and tenderhearted can make a tremendous difference in our lives, our homes, our friendships, our church, or our community.  We need the Lord’s help to keep an attitude of kindness…SOS…  Because it is His will for us to be kind, we can be assured He will answer our prayers for help in demonstrating kindness.

Many times, demonstrating kindness (meeting the needs of others) takes faith that God will meet our needs.  Have you given to others when you thought you had nothing to give?  Yet, God met your need.  A great pioneer missionary set out on the strength of one final paycheck.  Later he would say, and I quote, “God’s work, done in God’s way, never lacks God’s supply.”

Philippians 4:6-7:  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NASV)

This verse tells us three steps for appropriating God’s peace in times of need: 

1  Don’t worry about anything; instead,
2  pray about everything; tell God your needs and
3 don’t forget to thank him for his answers.

If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (TLB).

 Some Scripture on Kindness: 

• 2 Timothy 2:24: says We, who belong to the Lord must NOT quarrel, but be kind to everyone, and that we must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15: Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
• Romans 12:17-21:  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Relationships & Loving Difficult People: 

1 Thessalonians 5:15:  “See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.”   What makes this the hardest kind of kindness to offer? Relationships can be difficult for many reasons.  Sometimes it is difficult to show kindness and compassion to those who are different from us, or with whom we are uncomfortable.  For example,  the poor, the rich, the emotionally or mentally impaired, those with personalities different from ours.  The way to resolve it is to pray about it.  Prayer may or may not change the difficult situation with someone, but prayer can change your heart.

It is difficult to love our enemies, especially if they are determined to bring harm to us.  Loving them is the choice, because it is the only way to bring a positive reaction to the situation.  Is there anyone hard for you to love?  Pray for him/her.  It is difficult not to care for someone if you are praying for that person on a regular basis.  Trust the Lord to change your relationship with that person.  Once we have an attitude of kindness, we must find ways to meet the needs of others–with words and actions.

Jesus was a wonderful example of kind words.  In 1 Peter 2:22 we read, “He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth.”  Jesus words were truth laced with grace.

Listen to some of the kind words of Jesus:

• “Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28)
• “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”  (John 14:27)
• Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.”  (John 14:1)
• Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Jesus didn’t just tell people what they wanted to hear. Many times He told them what they needed to hear.  He met their deeper needs.  He was motivated by love.  Listen, as I read these examples of the tough love of Jesus:

• “I tell you the truth; no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3)
• “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?… Then neither do I condemn you… go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10-11)
• “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

Jesus was able to say hard things in love because He spoke with discernment.  According to Proverbs 21:23 and Psalm 141:3 how does this work?  “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity” (Proverbs 21:23).  “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).  The Bible tells is the Lord is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give Him sacrifice.  Galatians 5:22, says that one of the fruits of the spirit is kindness.  What some practical ways to show kindness to… Family… Friends… Church… One way is we can “Let love spill out the door.”  Say blessings to one another… Find a need and fill it… Express appreciation…

Random Acts of Kindness:

• Write a note of appreciation to someone special.
• Write thank-you notes to your pastor and church staff.
• Do something special for your child or husband.
• Bake something for a busy mom or a sick neighbor.
• Give a gift to someone you don’t know but see often (such as a Christmas gift to the person at the McDonald’s window).
• Do something for your mother and mother-in-law.
• Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
• Put an extra shopping cart back in its appointed place in the parking lot.
• Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, thanking him or her for having such a great employee.
• When someone tries to merge into your lane, smile and wave while you let the car in.
• If there is a garden you enjoy, let the owner know how much pleasure it gives you.
• Laugh aloud often and share your smile generously.
• Enjoy!

We want to be like our Jesus and respond to others the way He responds to us.  The Golden Rule says, “Do to others what you would have them to do to you.” (Matthew 7:12).  That means being slow to anger and abounding in love (Exodus 34:6).

Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus, Give us hearts full of kindness.  Help us to be sympathetic and compassionate to those around us.  May our loved ones feel our sweetness and tenderness for them.  Keep our tongues from evil and our lips from speaking guile.  May we speak the truth in love.  Thank You, Lord, for being such a perfect example of kindness and compassion to us.  Thank you for being tenderhearted to us and for forgiving us over and over again.  Thank you for not remembering my sinful words and deeds after I confess them to You and ask forgiveness.  May we extend to others the mercy and grace You’ve shown to us.  Lord, we want to be obedient to the admonitions from Your Word. “May the words of our mouths…meditations of our hearts… O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14).  –Amen

(Betty Huizenga, Apples of Gold)