COMPASSION (vs. Indifference) Responding to a deep need with a longing to do whatever is necessary to meet it. ( 1 John 3:17)
Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others. Learning to use words and actions which will be comforting and healing.

1. Compassion is stirred by an urgent need to help.
- The Pharoah’s daughter had compassion on Moses as a bay
- Jesus had compassion on a grieving widow
- The Good Samaritan had compassion on a wounded traveler

2. Compassion results from discerning a deep need
3. Compassion is Activated by humble pleas for help.
4. Compassion is a normal response to an urgent need.

How to Develop a compassionate Heart
1. Focus on our great debt to God.
2. Enlarge our heart with a prayer list
3. Turn personal suffering into compassion for others.
4. Look for ways to do good to all people.

Personal Evlauation:
Who was the last person who asked you fro help and how did you help them?

“Some great people make others feel small but he greatest people of all make others feel tall!”

Sympathy – Feeling sorry for people who are hurting.
Empathy – Feeling the pain with people who are hurting.
Compassion – Doing something about that pain.

“We will never know by experience, God’s richest blessings of comfort and compassion towards others until we ourselves have had trials.” T.J. Bach

CAUTIOUSNESS (vs. Rashness) Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.

– Recognizing that we have natural inclinations that are opposite of God’s ways. These tendencies may seem right but really can be destructive to our lives. (The verses for this character quality are Proverbs 9:2 Is. 55:8-9 and Proverbs 3:5,6)

Acting apart from the life and power of God is foolish. Christ exemplified one who did nothing of His own will but only what His Father directed Him to do. John 5:30 A cautious person will also seek God’s will for each situation.

How do we develop cautiousness?

1. Acknowledge that our natural inclinations are often wrong, and cry out to God for His wisdom. Jer. 33:3 Psalm 50:15 James 1:5

2. Learn from the experiences of others.

The biographies that God wrote in the Bible are filled with rich counsel on how to do things God’s way. Psalm 19:7

3. Consider the opposite action of natural inclination.

4. Seek out wise counsel.

A caution sign on the highway usually means that others have not exercised sufficient cautiousness in that spot and have paid a high price. In life we would be wise to listen to others and gain from their experiences.

Allow time to test the credibility of your course and the stability of your steps

Waiting on the Lord for guidance forces us to reevaluate priorities and identify the “needful” things of life.

“Preparation is not something suddenly accomplished, but a process steadily maintained.” – Oswald Chambers.

Cautious people are those who have conquered the urge to speak before they get all the facts.

James 1:19 Proverbs 1:5

Personal Evaluation:

- Do you seek God’s will for every situation?

- Do you ask for counsel from wise and experienced people?

- Do you learn from the mistakes of others and yourself?

- Do you think before you speak?

- Do you think of the right timing for doing things?

- Do you realize how your actions will affect others?

- Do you plan ahead and count the cost, especially on big endeavors?

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Celebrating with Leslie and Lee proud parents of Kaiden Alexander! We all know what a blessing and answer to prayer this is!

BOLDNESS (vs. Fearfulness) – Confidence that what I have to say or do will result in lasting benefit.

(The verse for this character quality is Acts 4:29)

There are 3 translations for the Greek word for boldness in the Bible.

-Tharrheo – Boldness in the face of death

-Parrhesiazomai – Boldness to speak the truth

-Tolmao – Boldness to accomplish great things for God

Boldness is the fearless and daring courage to carry out the work God calls us to do. Being willing to stand alone on the side of right even when it requires personal sacrifice!

Boldness if Face of Death

Boldness to conquer the fear of death comes thought the recognition of what awaits us 2 Cor. 5:6-8

The most powerful people on earth are those who have no fear of death and are reminded of God’s promise in Heb. 13:5-6

Boldness to speak the Truth

This kind of boldness comes through the prayer. Paul prayed this “ for me, that utterance may be give, that I may open my mouth boldly , to make known the mystery of the gospel and speak boldly as I ought to speak.” Eph. 6:19-20

Boldness to Accomplish Great Things

When we have conquered the fear of death and become bold in speaking the truth we are then able to accomplish mighty things. II Chr. 16:9 Daniel 11:32 John 15:7-8

Gideon and David both demonstrated boldness. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 demonstrated boldness. Heb. 11:32-24

Personal Evaluation:

When we reach the end of our life what do we want to look back on, of which one can say,” This is what God accomplished through me?”