The Five Minute Friday word prompt for this week is mercy. I looked up the definition in the online thesaurus and dictionary, Rhymezone. Here are a few of the definitions:
- noun: alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed
- noun: a disposition to be kind and forgiving
- noun: the feeling that motivates compassion
Those of us who follow Jesus have experienced the mercy of God as illustrated in the following verse:
One of the synonyms of mercy I found on Rhymezone is compassion:
- noun: the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
- noun: a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering
There is so much suffering and evil going on in the world, and we cannot possibly help everyone. But we can look for ways to show mercy and compassion right where we are.
Because of the mercy that has been shown to us, we are better able to show compassion to others. And as we do so, we are even more blessed.
Matthew 5:7 (CSB)
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
There seems to be a lot of hatred and violence going on in our country, and it is sad and distressing. I recently wrote a poem to try to pull my swirling thoughts together and offer hope. This seems like a good place to share it.
Mercy and Hope for a Heavy Heart
My heart is heavy, Lord.
Evil seems rampant
in our world.
Hatred is found in
words and acts.
Have we forgotten love?All claim to have the truth.
This side must be right;
that one, wrong.
No, that side is right;
this one, wrong.
Why are we divided?Up is down and down, up,
in this mixed up world
we live in,
We sometimes confuse
right and wrong.
How can we find the truth?My heart is heavy, Lord,
but not without hope
in the One
true God and Savior,
Jesus Christ,
the Life, the Truth, the Way.He came to give us life
by His sacrifice.
His great love
sent Him to the cross,
all for us.
Will we not trust in Him?My heart is heavy, Lord,
but I need not fear
tomorrow.
Whatever happens
in this land;
we are in Your hands.So look to God, my friend.
He is the truth that
sets you free.
Ask Him for wisdom
to discern;
then proceed with love.~gsw~
Mercy and Compassion for All
“As Christians we are called to show compassion to others from a heart of love. That doesn’t just mean showing mercy to those who are kind to us. True compassion doesn’t depend on whether or not we think someone deserves it.
So how can we find the strength to show mercy even when people strongly disagree? We turn to God’s Word and there we find truth. Not only that, but because of Jesus we can come boldly before God, and He will give mercy and grace.
Hebrews 4:12-16
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #InspireMeMonday,#Let’sHaveCoffee, #HeartEncouragement
Thinking of you and sending love and hugs and prayers.
Thank you so much, dear Melissa! Blessings and love to you! xo
Oh thank you for sharing this good Word for today. Truly our hearts are too heavy, and we don’t know what we should do, or which way to go. But God is so full of mercy toward us!! He is the truth that sets us free, and He is the mercy that we all need. Love, hugs, and blessings to you Dear sister! Xoxo
Dear Bettie, thank you so much for your sweet encouragement. I appreciate your friendship so much and I’m so glad we can pray and share with each other. Blessings, love and hugs right back to you, dear sister! xoxo
Beautiful Gayl!
Thank you so much, Cindy. Blessings to you!
Beautiful poems, Gayl! I especially like the first one :). Just what I needed this morning.
Thank you, Anita. I’m so glad you were encouraged. Blessings to you!
Dear Gayl, I empathise with your heart heaviness. It’s afflicting so many of us. And I’m so thankful for the double blessing here of two beautiful, yearning poems which ask the questions and also point us in the right direction to be helped. Yes, may love always be our song, as we seek to be Christ’s hands and feet and mouthpieces in a hurting world. Blessings of peace and soul encouragement to you, dear friend. May God bring you His supernatural calm, rest and strength. xoxo ❤️
Dear Joy, thank you so much for your thoughts. It is hard sometimes to know just what to say and how we can show Christ to the world. But when we think of His love for us, everything is put into perspective and it helps us to help one another. May you also have blessings and peace and encouragement. May God great relief from your pain, joy to your heart and strength to your whole being. Much love to you with many blessings! xoxo
I’m sure that the conflicts and troubles we are having in our world are hitting you especially hard, Gayl, as you grieve the loss of your son. I do hope you are sensing God’s comfort and healing. And I love your poem! Really brings the issues we face into focus, while also offering the answer–to turn to God for His wisdom. I’m praying that’s what we all do!
Yes, it really is hard, but God does bring comfort in the grief. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my son, and tears well up, but there are beautiful memories and a peace just knowing he is now with Jesus and in no pain but full of joy. So glad you love the poem. I really don’t like to be political but I also felt the need to somehow bring words of hope while not minimizing the struggles. I echo your prayer that we all turn to God for wisdom and let Him guide us in these troubling times. Blessings and hugs to you! xo
The poem is beautiful! Blessed to be your neighbor at FMF this week.
Thank you so much, Tara. Blessings and hugs to you! xo
If we ever once grasped the depth and width and height of the mercy we have received, we would extend it to others so much more freely.
This is so thought provoking, Gayl.
Yes, if we just took time every day to reflect on how much mercy we have received, it would be so much easier to pass it on. Thanks for your comment, dear Michele. Blessings to you! xo
These days are so distressing. May God fill each of us with His compassion so that we become agents of mercy within our communities. Blessings!
Amen, Joanne. It would be so easy just to get angry or depressed with all that’s going on. But if we give all that to God, He will give us peace as we trust in Him to accomplish His will. I was just thinking this morning that if I get angry and let it fester, knowing that I can’t do anything about what is happening, then all I’m doing is adding to the stress. But if I give it to God, I rest in His loving arms and am able to bring peace to others. Blessings to you, dear sister! xo
Gayl, this is such an encouraging reminder, especially with all that is going on can stir up our emotions. It’s so easy to fall into the flesh and respond with pride, but God makes it clear to show mercy as He has shown mercy to us. My uncle is a Minister of pastoral care for inmates at over 19 correctional facilities in Birmingham through Church of the Highlands and he made a statement that always sticks with me when I think of mercy. He said, “Everyone wants justice when it comes to everyone else, but when it comes to us, we all desire mercy.”
Your uncle is very wise, Christina. May we all reflect on how much God has done for us, then ask Him to help us give that to others, even when it’s hard. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting.
Thank you for visiting me from Heart Encouragement. It’s nice to be “neighbors” there today. Your poetry is absolutely beautiful! What a gift God has given you to create that way! We all want mercy for ourselves, don’t we? But not so much for others! Oh, that I would have the heart of mercy Jesus does!!
Blessings,
Patti @ Clothed with Joy
Thank you so much for your kind words, Patti. Yes, may God give us a heart of mercy for others and He has so generously bestowed on us. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting.
I love the poems especially the first one. Its such a comfort to know that God is in control even if it looks like the world is so full of grief. I co-host FAITH AND WORSHIP CHRISTIAN WEEKEND link party and would love for you to join us. You can find the party over at my blog Grace for a Gypsy.
Thank you, Sylvia. Yes it is a comfort knowing God is always in control. Thanks for visiting and I will check out your blog. Blessings to you!