Try A Little Tenderness Philippians 2:1-5 Colossians 3:12-14 Galatians 5:22-25 Ephesians 4:1-3 Ephesians 4:32 2 Peter 1:5-8 Romans 12:9-10 Psalms 133:1 Proverbs 16:24 Proverbs 15:1 Ecclesiastes 10:4 1 Thessalonians 3:12 11.14.18

TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS

BREAD

¹ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:1-5 (NIV)

¹² Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.   Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

¹ How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

⁴ Calmness can lay great errors to rest.   Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NIV)

¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Speaking your mind can’t change anything like speaking kind. The art of living masters the beauty of both.  Warmth draws us like the wind never does. Look for the warmth in every wind.  Rest in the agelessness of it: Tender kindness is the truest kind of beauty.”   Ann Voskamp

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning.”   Frederick Faber

“Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness.”   Isaac of Syria

“Every act of kindness and compassion done by any man for his fellow Christian is done by Christ working within him.”   Julian of Norwich

“I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.”   Mother Teresa

“Why in the world disdain the small? It’s always the smallest strokes that add up to the greatest masterpieces. Because the thing really is: Do we ever really know which mark we make — that will matter the most? The extraordinary things happen nowhere else but in the everyday and today can always be the beginning:  That card you signed and sealed and put in the mail, the way you smiled and nodded to the white-crowned woman bent over the still-green bananas, the way you dug around in the dirt and left that seed or that gift of the knees and that prayer whispered for a stranger or that glass of water you handed to someone and winked because you just knew — You’ve got to remember: we don’t know when and how we are leaving the greatest marks on the world. It all matters.  Believe it: Every tremor of kindness might erupt in a miracle on the other side of the world.”   Ann Voskamp

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”   Francis de Sales

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“A true champion extends grace and kindness because he knows the transformation that has taken place in his own heart, and he realizes those who receive God’s love and grace have no other course of action but to give God’s love away.”   Michael Youssef

“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.   Though they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently; He will forgive if they only believe.  Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.  Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way, Patiently win them; Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died. Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”  Fanny Crosby

“Who among us does not need grace?  Who among us does not long for merciful loving-kindness?  Who among us does not need forgiveness?  Every morning get up and teach yourself the Gospel – we all are sinners in need of a Savior – and be ever so thankful that we have One.”    BHY 

 

“We are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it.  No created being can ever know how much and how sweetly and tenderly God loves them.”  Julian of Norwich   
“Hearts that get tougher — leave you with nothing of value to give.  Love is what we have to give —- and love comes from places that are vulnerable and soft and tender enough to feel — to break.   Only those who are really vulnerable enough to be broken — get to be the ones who really love.  It can be that when you feel broken — it’s proof that you’ve given.”   Ann Voskamp

HEART SAVOR

·         Kindness is always a welcome thing – practice it!

·         It is pleasant and peaceful when brothers live together in unity.

·         I am to live a life worthy of the high calling I have received as a child of the King.