Christian Family Services Ministry

4-30-2014 – First, the mercy observes one hurting. The source of the pain may be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Second, the mercy places himself in contact with the person hurting. Three, the mercy takes the pain off the other person. Four, there is an awareness on the part of the mercy that a transfer of pain has occurred and that they are now hurting. Fifth, the mercy then goes through the process of giving up the pain to the Lord. Sixth, deep fatigue sets in. Seventh, is the recovery stage.

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4-29-2014 – The central thought for us is how the trait of mercy is portrayed in the movie. A miraculous element is suggested however I believe that this ability is obtainable and usable by those who desire to make the necessary sacrifices. The cycle displayed in the movie is reminiscent of the actual stages a mercy employing these abilities experiences.

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4-25-2014 – Not long ago there was a film release, which symbolizes just how important mercy is in the lives of others.  Stephen King’s popular serial released book set in Louisiana circa 1935 was adapted for film in 1999. It portrays a death row prisoner John Coffey found guilty of murdering two nine year old girls. Coffey is discovered holding the bodies of the children in his lap. Coffey played by Michael Clark Duncan, a huge 7 foot 330 pound black man awaits execution on what is known as the Green Mile by those who assume he killed the girls.. Paul Edgecomb, played by Tom Hanks is one of the guards responsible for his eventual execution.

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4-22-2014 – So it is with mercy. Perhaps we should offer a glimmer of insight into the benefits of the merciful as we count the cost. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount tells us that the one who is merciful will obtain mercy. We will see something of the value of that blessing shortly.

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4-21-2014 – The character quality of mercy is obtained in much the same manner, however it involves the experience of significant pain; emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual. Acquiring mercy is very painful. Not long ago I was explaining to a client the painful process necessary if one was to develop the trait, and its benefit to others. The individual let me know quite bluntly they had no desire to acquire mercy they would do just fine without it. How unfortunate. It reminds me of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus wanting to be a disciple. Once learning the cost he decided to choose a different path. 

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4-18-2014 – THE ACQUISITION OF MERCY: Why And how. Patience is obtained through endurance of unpleasant situations or circumstances. How often I hear, “I will not ever pray for the Lord to teach me patience again.” Usually this follows a very trying experience. The person is unwilling to undergo the character training necessary to produce the character quality of patience.

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4-14-2015 – Hand in hand with the loneliness and affliction is the receipt of the quality of mercy.

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4-11-2014 – Many are content to live their life being comforted, taught, trained, corrected, even disciplined by others who are special to the Lord. Yet being the comforter is a higher calling. But with it comes affliction, loneliness, and an anxiety for godly things.

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4-8-2014 –  This transformation is a painful process yet it bears fruit the nature of which reflects in our bearing, our manner of speech, the look of our eyes, every aspect of our being radiates this ‘godly comfort’.

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4-4-2014 – It is here as well that we learn one of the most important lessons of the spiritual world. Paul hints at it in II Corinthians 1. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.“ We are actually transformed in this process from the person who is ‘comforted by those comforted by God” to a person who is comforted by God.

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