By Bobbie Houston

Last year the following message was received on the Hillsong Television answering machine by a woman who didn’t leave her name. She said: ‘Hi, I would rather stay anonymous as the situation is rather embarrassing but I just want to praise your institute, or your gathering or whatever you call it. Last night I was destitute in the city and two of your fellow worshipers or followers who were at a Hillsong gathering helped me. I know this because as they were putting me in a cab, they handed me one of your brochures. Now I was a mess last night. I had no money and was found crying on the edge of the road as these two angels just came and helped me. I just want you to know how good it is that you are doing such wonderful work in this world. Your work hasn’t gone unanswered, that you have such people following you and preaching your hard works by their actions. Please announce this among your people as it has really made a difference in my life. I am a Christian, but I haven’t been to church in a long time, but I really saw it as some sort of awakening or enlightenment. God bless you and give you strength for your work to continue.’

It is amazing how a simple act of kindness can have such a powerful impact in reconciling someone to the goodness of God. As a church, we are known for many things but our desire is that the power of reconciliation will be at the heart of everything.

Word definitions are interesting. The word passion includes intense emotion, interest and enthusiasm. Compassion can be defined as is deep sympathy for the suffering of another, accompanied by the desire to relieve it, or the mercy and loving kindness of an amazing God in heaven who didn’t need to stay committed to us but chose to. The word reconciliation is beautiful, It means to end conflict or separation and to walk in the new. If we are going to call ourselves Christians, this message of reconciliation needs to consume us. We need to stir up the passion that leads to compassion, that in turn leads to a spirit of reconciliation. How do we do that?

Come lentamente para no engordar

Muchas personas empiezan a deseperarse por todo lo que hay que hacer hasta por lo que les tocará hacer. Sin embargo, la paz se puede mantener en todo momento.

Tú guardarás en completa paz a aquel cuyo pensamiento en ti persevera,

 porque en ti ha confiado. Isaías 26:3.